German Citizenship by Descent & Restoration – U.S. Legal Help to get Your German Passport

That’s where we come in. We help U.S.-based individuals determine, with clarity and precision, whether they qualify for German citizenship. This is not a guess or a generic checklist—it’s a detailed legal analysis tailored to your family history.

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• One particularly moving case involved a Jewish family whose German nationality was revoked under the Nazi regime.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.

1️⃣ Send Your Documents
Birth certificates, passports, or family tree — we’ll tell you exactly what’s needed.

2️⃣ Legal Eligibility Check
We analyze your case under §§ 5 or 15 StAG and assess if you qualify.

3️⃣ Strategy Call
We explain the legal path, timelines, and next steps in plain English.

4️⃣ Full Representation
We handle the application, submit it to German authorities, and manage all communication.

5️⃣ Citizenship + Passport
We support you through final approval, certificate recognition, and passport issuance.

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

Claiming 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.