Leaving the church in the north: fees remain stable, what does that mean?

Leaving the church in the north: fees remain stable, what does that mean?

A topic that is currently very popular is leaving the church in Germany. Many people consider leaving the church, raising questions about the fees involved. In Germany, these fees vary greatly depending on the federal state, and there are some interesting developments.

In Hamburg, for example, the fee for the certificate of leaving the church remains stable at 31 euros, a price that has been set since January 1, 2005. In comparison, Thuringia saw an increase from 30 euros to 36 euros, which shows that it was time to revise the conditions there. In northeastern Germany in particular, the rates for leaving the church vary and range between 15 and 31 euros, depending on the federal state. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the fee was increased from 12 to 15 euros in 2021, while in Schleswig-Holstein the fee of 20 euros has remained unchanged for several years. Interestingly, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the fee is only charged to people aged 14 and over, younger children do not have to pay anything, and there are currently no plans to increase it. This is reported by the star.

Legal situation and process

Leaving the church is not just a question of money, but also a legal process. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the law on the collection of church tax stipulates that tax liability begins on the first day after membership or residence begins in this federal state. Resignation can be declared from the age of 14, but children under 14 must resign through their legal representative, whereby the consent of the child aged 12 and over is required. The declaration must be made to the responsible registry office and can be made either verbally or in writing. As a rule, the responsible church and the registration authority are informed within a week, as is the case with regards to the administration of the withdrawal kirchenaustritt.de.

Another important point is that the fees for leaving the church are not always the same. In various regions of Germany, from Baden-Württemberg to Schleswig-Holstein, the fee varies between 25 and 35 euros, although there are even places where you can exit for free. For example, no fees were charged in Brandenburg and Saxony, while in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland the fees are around 30 euros. The fees primarily cover administrative and personnel costs, and if you leave the church, you no longer have to pay church tax, which can amount to up to 9 percent of income tax. This shows that financial considerations often play a role in the decision to leave the church certified.de summarized.

Current trends and declines

The numbers of people leaving the church also remain an exciting topic. In 2021, a total of 639,205 people left the church in Germany. In 2023, around 402,694 people left the Catholic Church and around 380,000 left the Evangelical Church. Despite a slight decline compared to 2022, the trend of religious communities leaving remains, often influenced by social events such as abuse scandals. After all, leaving the church is a right protected by the fundamental right to religious freedom Article 4 of the Basic Law and must be possible at any time without the citizen's consent being withheld.

In summary, it can be said that leaving the church in Germany continues to be a topic of great relevance. The fees are variable and reflect both regional characteristics and social developments, which makes the topic so exciting and often emotionally charged.