A traditional "change of
name by marriage"
Changing your name by marriage is easy peasy, and
free. You just do it. You don't have to ask
anyone's permission. You can start to use your new
name whenever you wish. Many couples incorporate
their name change decision in the celebrant's
closing remarks at their wedding ceremony, just
before they walk back up the aisle.
It is
not a legal requirement to change
your name on any documentation. Nor is it a legal
requirement to stop using your maiden (birth) name
entirely. A growing number of women chose to use
their married name socially but keep their maiden
(birth) name for professional purposes and use
(and to keep being searchable on Google and on
social media). It is perfectly legal to keep your
maiden name on official ID documents. The
important thing is to be consistent about where
and when you use each name. Government and
financial institutions are inclined to get a bit
awkward if you present inconsistent documentation.
If you decide to change your name on your
documentation, the process is straightforward:
- You have to have been married in Australia.
While your overseas marriage will be
recognised in Australia, because it is not
registered in Australia change of name by
marriage isn't available to you. You
will have to apply for a legal name change.
- You need to have a copy of your official
marriage certificate (the one you apply for to
Births, Deaths, and Marriages in the State or
Territory in which you got married). This
certificate proves that your marriage was
registered
- And then you take that certificate, together
with your birth certificate to prove the link
between the two names, plus whatever it is
that you are asking to be reissued to the
various entities where you want to change your
name and ask for that to be done.
Hint: Start with photo ID such as
driver licence or passport, because that can
then be used to do things like change your
name online on the electoral role
Cost: There is no cost to have your
documents reissued in your new name. Not even
for your new passport, though that does have
some conditions - you must have at least 2
years validity left on your passport and you
must apply within 12 months of getting
married.
Your choices
Historically, change of name was simple. A
couple got married and the bride's birth surname
(generally her father's surname) was replaced by
her husband's surname.
And that's still one of the choices. A common
alternative is that the wife hyphenates her
birth name with her husband's surname. And he
changes nothing.
But there are other choices, choices that apply
to either and both of you, regardless of gender.
- One of you can change your surname to that
of the other, so you both have the same
surname - typically Mr and Mrs Jones,
for example (or Mr and Mr Jones or Mrs
and Mrs Jones)
- One of you can hyphenate your birth surname
with that of the other, so one of you retains
your birth name within your married name, and
the other one doesn't change their name -
typically Mr Jones and Mrs
Smith-Jones
- Both of you can combine your names, with or
without a hyphen, in either order, Smith-Jones,
Smith Jones, Jones-Smith, or Jones
Smith.
- One of you can use your "married name"
socially but keep using your birth name
professionally. This is still almost
exclusively a choice made by professional
women.
- Both of you can decide NOT to change your
name.
- Or both of you can choose a whole new
surname (this requires a legal name change)
Legal name change
A legal name change is a whole other matter.
You have to make a formal application and pay a
fee and give a reason for the change. So, in a
way, a government entity has the final decision
about whether you will be allowed to change your
name.
Other things about a formal legal change of name
that you need to be aware of:
- This form of name changes obliterates your
birth surname and retrospectively changes your
surname on your Australian birth certificate.
You will be issued with an amended birth
certificate.
- If you were born overseas, you will be
issued with a change of name certificate
- There are residence conditions. If you were
not born in Australia you need to be a
permanent resident who has lived in your
current state for the previous 12 months. If
you were born in Australia you apply to BDM in
the state or territory in which you were born
- There are limits on how often you can change
your name and how many times in your lifetime
you can do so. In Queensland, for example, you
can only change your name once in a 12 month
period. In New South Wales and Victoria, for
example, you can only change your name three
times in your lifetime. Other states have
similar rules.
- You need to apply for a legal name change,
pay a fee, and provide a long list of
documentation
- You don't have to have gotten married in
order to change your name legally
- It can take quite a long time - months -
from application to approval.
Do you always have to
show your official marriage certificate?
If you are changing official documents, or with a
financial institution that requires 100 points of
ID, the answer is yes. In other circumstances, the
answer is no you don't! And frankly, your
marriage certificate is a legal identity document
with personal information on it so you shouldn't
just flash it around to all and sundry.
Some organisations may accept the Presentation
Certificate (the pretty one you were handed on the
day, officially Form 15) because it is proof that
the marriage took place, and it doesn't include
any personal information other than your full
names. Sad but true, using the Presentation
Certificate will be straightforward if you are a
wife doing a straight swap to her husband's
surname. For anything else, you may have to deal
with skepticism. At which point, your updated
driver license or adult proof of age card should
settle the argument.
Your doctor, dentist, or other medical practice
should accept your updated medicare card as
evidence, a good reason to change that once you
get your new photo ID (driver licence, passport,
or adult proof of age card).
Any place where it is just a matter of them
changing your name on their membership list should
accept your word for it.
Going Facebook Official doesn't require any proof,
and nor does changing your name on Facebook
What if you get
divorced, separate, or just change your mind?
If you had changed your name by marriage all you
need to do is reverse the process. Just take
your marriage certificate and your birth
certificate to prove the link between the two
names and "reclaim" your birth name. You can do
this immediately. Your birth name is yours by
right throughout your life. However, some
entities may ask to see a divorce certificate.
Feel free to argue the toss on that one!
If you wish to continue to use your "married"
name, you are free to do that. Your ex can't
stop you using the name.
If you have gone through a legal change of name,
you have to make a new application, abiding by
all the rules for that, so the process is much
more protracted.
Something you might
not have thought of
If you've changed your name by marriage
you will, forever after, have to provide extra
documentation and proof of the link between your
birth name and your current (married) name. So,
if having to present your birth certificate and
another form of ID, for example your passport or
driver licence, or even your divorce
certificate, you will also have to show the link
between your two names, in other words, your
marriage certificate (the official one). So make
sure you have one, keep it safe, and take it
with you when needed.
Related Information
Thanks for reading!