TestZen · Einbürgerungstest · Practice

252. In Germany …

Official German wording

In Deutschland …

  1. darf man zur gleichen Zeit nur mit einem Partner / einer Partnerin verheiratet sein.
  2. kann man mehrere Ehepartner / Ehepartnerinnen gleichzeitig haben.
  3. darf man nicht wieder heiraten, wenn man einmal verheiratet war.
  4. darf eine Frau nicht wieder heiraten, wenn ihr Mann gestorben ist.

Answer options

  1. one may be married to only one spouse at the same time.
  2. one can have several spouses at the same time.
  3. one may not marry again if one has been married once.
  4. a woman may not remarry if her husband has died.

Correct answer

one may be married to only one spouse at the same time.

Explanation

German marriage law is strictly monogamous: section 1306 of the Civil Code (BGB) prohibits double marriage, and entering into it constitutes a criminal offense under section 172 of the Criminal Code (StGB). Article 6(1) of the Basic Law places marriage and family under the special protection of the state, and constitutional jurisprudence conceptualizes marriage as a two-person institution. Polygamous marriages validly concluded abroad have only narrowly circumscribed effects in Germany and generally contravene public policy (ordre public) under Article 6 of the Introductory Act to the Civil Code (EGBGB). Remarriage after divorce or widowhood is permitted; earlier waiting periods for women have been abolished, and issues of filiation are addressed by sections 1592 et seq. BGB.

Official sources

The German questions come from the original BAMF catalog for the Einbürgerungstest and Leben in Deutschland. Translations and explanations are study aids; verify legal details in the official sources.