German Citizenship Eligibility Check

If your parent, grandparent, or even great-grandparent was German, you may be entitled to reclaim German citizenship—even if you were born in the United States, have never lived in Germany, and don’t speak the language.

Germany’s citizenship laws have changed, and many people now qualify under expanded eligibility rules. But the legal path isn’t always obvious. That’s where I come in.

Over the years, I have worked with clients across the United States and beyond who never imagined they could qualify for German citizenship. Some had been told „no“ in the past. Others didn’t even know citizenship was a possibility. The truth is: the law has changed, and it now recognizes many people who were historically excluded.

✳️ For example, I recently worked with a woman in California whose grandmother fled Germany in 1938. Her family had lost touch with their German heritage, and no one thought they could „get it back.“ But under Germany’s current law—especially the restitution provisions tied to Nazi-era persecution—this client was not only eligible for citizenship, she now holds a German passport.

Another client, born in Texas in 1960, was the son of a German mother who had lost her citizenship automatically upon marrying a U.S. soldier in the late 1950s. For decades, he assumed that meant the end of the line for his German roots. In fact, under the 2021 reform, this form of gender-based discrimination was corrected—and we successfully reclaimed his citizenship.

One particularly moving case involved a Jewish family whose German nationality was revoked under the Nazi regime. The client’s grandparents were deported, and her mother was born in exile. Even though decades had passed, and the documentation was scattered across multiple countries, we pieced together the family’s history and had her citizenship reinstated under Article 116 of the German Basic Law.

“My mother was born in Germany, but I was born abroad in 1962—do I qualify?”

“My parents became U.S. citizens in the 1960s—did they lose their German citizenship?”

“I was adopted by a German stepfather as a child—can I claim citizenship through him?”

“I was told I don’t qualify, but I heard the law changed. What’s different now?”

These are exactly the types of cases I handle—legally complex, historically sensitive, and deeply personal.

Reclaiming or confirming German citizenship is not a one-size-fits-all process. Depending on your ancestry, your parents’ or grandparents’ legal status at the time of your birth, and even the timing of historical events, your legal pathway may differ significantly. That’s why I offer a detailed, lawyer-conducted eligibility assessment—so you don’t have to guess or rely on second-hand information.

This service is designed for individuals with German ancestry or family history tied to Germany, who want a legally verified answer to the question: „Do I qualify for German citizenship?“

• A Comprehensive Legal Review of Your Family’s Citizenship History
  I examine key factors such as the birthplaces and citizenship statuses of your parents, grandparents, and in some cases great-grandparents. I analyze the legal framework in place at the relevant times, including older versions of the German Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz), Nazi-era laws, and recent legislative reforms.
• Identification of the Applicable Legal Pathway
  Every case is different. You might qualify through:
  • Citizenship by descent (Abstammung)
  • Restoration of citizenship under Article 116 of the German Basic Law (for victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants)
  • Gender-based discrimination corrections (e.g., for children of German mothers born before 1975)
  • Late registration or legitimation of birthI’ll determine which of these pathways—if any—apply to your situation
• A Personalized Legal Opinion and Action Plan
  The result of the assessment is not a generic letter. It’s a personalized legal memo outlining:
  • Whether you are likely to qualify
  • The legal reasoning behind this conclusion
  • Which documents are needed
  • Which documents are neededWhether you decide to move forward with me or handle the application independently, you’ll have a reliable legal roadmap.

Inheritance Law Pages

📝 Step 1: Document Review + Legal Assessment (Flat Fee)
You provide key documents such as:

• Birth and marriage certificates (yours and your ancestors’)
• Naturalization records (if applicable)
• Passports or identity documents
• Emigration records or military discharge papers (if available)

Once I receive your file, I will conduct a detailed legal analysis, referencing both current German nationality law and historic legal frameworks. This includes examining laws in effect during periods such as 1913–1949, post-war nationality transitions, and the reforms introduced in August 2021.

After completing the assessment, we will schedule a personal consultation call to go over your results, discuss open questions, and outline options.

📄 Step 2: Legal Opinion & Roadmap
You will receive a written summary with:

• A clear „Yes/No“ answer on eligibility
• The relevant legal provisions and your applicable citizenship pathway
• A detailed next-step plan

Bonus: If you choose to proceed with your application through my office, the cost of the eligibility check will be fully credited toward the final service fee.

However, many of these rights are time-limited. Under transitional provisions, eligible individuals have until August 19, 2031 to submit their applications. That may seem far away, but in practice, collecting records, verifying lineage, and preparing a legally sound application can take several months—especially if archives or international coordination is involved.

Don’t leave it to chance, misinformation, or last-minute panic.
Get a professional assessment and act from a place of clarity.

Citizenship Is More Than a Passport—It’s Identity, History, and Belonging

Reclaiming German citizenship isn’t just about legal status. It’s about restoring a connection that may have been lost through war, discrimination, or migration. It’s about honoring your family’s story—and securing a future in two worlds.

This process can feel overwhelming. German attorney Nicola Casper-Hoesl makes the process clear, structured, and personal. You’ll know where you stand, what to expect, and how to move forward—with a trusted advisor at your side.