Ilonka Fürstin von Sayn-Wittgenstein: una princesa en el Derecho internacional privado

Abstract

The Austrian authority not only denied the recognition of a surname, “Fürstin von Sayn-Wittgenstein”, which was determined by the German authority but also ordered the rectification in the Austrian Civil Register entry. The refusal to recognize the surname creates an obstacle to the free movement and establishment of EU citizens. Nevertheless, this obstacle is justified because the surname which is attributed to the appellant encloses a title, which is banned in Austria because of the application of the Abolition Nobility Law which belongs to a constitutional rank.