If you do not have German citizenship, it is important that you clarify your legal residence situation, also in connection with your family situation. Here is an overview of the most important regulations:

• If you are a citizen of the EU, you are "entitled to freedom of movement" and do not require a residence permit to stay in Germany. Separation or divorce have no negative consequences for your right of residence.

• Family members of EU citizens who do not have EU citizenship themselves generally require a residence permit. This is initially recognized for a limited period (residence card) and after five years it is checked whether the requirements for a permanent residence permit are met (permanent residence card). In the event of divorce, the right of residence may continue to exist under certain conditions: for example, if you yourself meet the requirements for freedom of movement or for a permanent right of residence and/or your marriage has lasted three years, one of which was spent in Germany and/or you have custody or rights of access to children of the EU citizen.

• If you have a foreign nationality outside the EU (third-country national), you also require a residence permit. Depending on the purpose of your stay, you can initially obtain a temporary residence permit (of varying duration) and after five years - or three years if necessary - you can obtain a permanent residence permit (settlement permit) under certain conditions such as being able to support yourself and having sufficient language skills. If this is not limited in time, divorce, separation or the receipt of support for living expenses have no negative effects.

The following applies to all EU citizens: All family court decisions in matrimonial matters and on custody and access rights are directly valid in all EU states. Conversely, court decisions from every EU country are fully valid in Germany. (Details on this are regulated by the so-called Brussels II Regulation).

Even without a German passport, you can generally apply for a divorce at your place of residence in Germany. The family court will check which law applies (in many cases German law). However, this does not automatically apply to third-country nationals in their country of origin.

The right of residence that exists due to family reunification can be lost in the first three years after immigration in the event of separation or divorce. However, if there is particular hardship - for example domestic violence - this may be retained. It may also be possible to retain it if you are the mother or father of a child with foreign citizenship.

Even without a German passport, you are generally entitled to social benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit and maintenance advance. Child supplement and unemployment benefit I have no negative effects on your right of residence. However, if you receive basic security benefits for a longer period of time (temporary right of residence or less than five years in Germany), you may lose your freedom of movement or be subject to restrictions. Asylum seekers (or tolerated persons) receive limited benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act and are therefore excluded from further benefits such as child benefit.

The Integration Department of the Office for Immigration and Integration can help you.

You can get advice from various organizations in Wiesbaden - Caritas, Bund der Vertriebenen, Diakonisches Werk for adults and IB for 12 to 27-year-olds. Detailed information on all offers can be found at the Migration Advice Center of the City of Wiesbaden.

The wif center offers advice, opportunities to meet and a wide range of services by multilingual specialists for girls and women with a migration background.

To clarify your legal questions and concerns, you can contact the Wiesbadener Anwalts- und Notarverein e. V. for legal support. If necessary, you can make use of counseling and legal aid. Pro Asyl e. V. and the Hessian Refugee Council provide free advice in difficult immigration law situations.