Changing your name after marriage – Amanda Jensen Sunshine Coast Celebrant.
This gorgeous photo above (captured by Asha Photography) shows the celebrant – me, the couple – Kelli and Nick, and their two witnesses signing the marriage certificates and the form 15 during the ceremony (that’s the pretty one that you get to take home).
Now truth be told none of these documents help you change your name. Two of them which you will find out while signing are identical pieces of paper that need to be signed get taken home by me, and they are then lodged with Birth, Deaths and Marriages along with some other bits (boring celebrant stuff).
The form 15, although a legal document that gets signed by everyone – including me and has a unique serial number that I need to record also won’t do the trick. Read why below.
Some frequently asked questions
How do we receive this document?
Once your wedding has been registered and completed, then the next step happens – you either order and pay for your offical Certificate of Marriage or your celebrant orders and pay for your official Certificate of Marriage.
It’s as easy as getting a link sent to your email by Births, Deaths and Marriages, clicking on it and paying for it – some celebrants add this option in their packages. If you ever wonder, why a celebrant asks you closer to the day if you’re at the same address – well this has something to do with it.
Do I have to change my name because I got married?
Absolutely not, it’s up to you – it’s a personal choice.
Do we need to legally change our name?
In short, no.
The official Certificate of Marriage you receive in the mail (which looks like a birth certificate) is all you need to change your name, it doesn’t cost anything and no extra paperwork needs to be filled out like you would if you were to legally change your name.
Is there a time limit on how soon we need to change it?
No, there is no rush. This document is a paper trail that the marriage took place and has no expiry date, although if you lose it, you will incur a fee to replace the document.
What if I want to hyphenate my name?
Easy, you bring your current I.D and your marriage certificate and start the process with your chosen name. The document shows both surnames so you can mix it up if you want or choose to have both surnames and not even hyphenate them.
Can a husband take a wife’s name?
There are absolutely no rules at all, especially in modern days when it is becoming a lot more common. The same rule applies to any person in a same sex couple that has chosen to take their spouse’s name.
Why can’t we use form 15?
Although it is a legal document with a serial number signed by all it isn’t really proof of who you are. Yes, it has the full name and location of where the marriage took place, but the document you receive in the mail has things like your date of birth which helps confirm it’s actually you.
Where to change your name?
I always say to my couples start at the transport department, change your driver’s license over then you have photo ID with your new chosen name as well as the Official Certificate of Marriage
Here is a list of where to go next (not particularly in order)
Government
Driver license / photo ID
Passport – (if it has more than six months left on it, it’s re-issued free of charge – don’t quote me on that though)
Medicare
ATO
Electoral Roll (AEC)
ABN
TFN
Centrelink
Financial
Bank accounts
Credit cards
Superannuation accounts
Loans/mortgages
Car insurance
Home and content insurance
Life insurance
Vehicles
Car and registration
Toll accounts
Utilities
Electricity
Gas
Water
Phone
Internet
Pay TV services
Work
Payroll
Professional associations
Update email and work ID
Business cards
Personal
Doctors/ Dentist
Gym membership
Subscriptions
Loyalty programs
Will and Estate planning
Other (normally the first)
Social Media
Can someone else do it?
They sure can. These days the world is busy, and people are finding themselves time poor. This is where companies like Easy Name Change provide a fast stress-free way for couples to complete all the name change paperwork.
At what point is my name changed?
This can confuse people a bit. The idea that you haven’t changed your name until you have the new I.D in that name – well, that is incorrect. When you update your official documents such as your license or passport you are simply informing them about your new name, not creating the change itself (as mentioned before that paper trail)
How can I change my name if I am born overseas?
To change your name in QLD after getting married but being born overseas you may need to apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to show proof that you have lived here, in Queensland, for more than 12 months and provide your overseas birth certificate and Australian Marriage Certificate as proof; you’ll then get a formal change of name certificate, which you will use for all you other IDs starting with license and passport.
Although some organisation will accept your overseas documents if they don’t check out this link for more information.
Is there flexibility to revert to my birth name or am I stuck with it?
Changing your name after marriage doesn’t mean giving up your birth name/ maiden name/ pre marriage name permanently. You retain the right to use your birth name for legal purposes. This means you can
- Delay updating documents like your passport or driver’s license if you still need to use your birth name
- Return to your original name if you decide the new name isn’t for you without a formal process
- Use both names when they suit you. For example, social media and socially have your new name but for work keep your legal name.
Tips:
Make a checklist of all the places that your name appears.
Be patient – some can take a few weeks to process.
Ensure you passport and IDs match your booking information if you are travelling- if your honeymoon is two days after your wedding, unfortunately it won’t be able to be in your “new name” well maybe a restaurant reservation can.
To summarise, there is no formal process that needs to take place and once you change it, you aren’t stuck with it forever (if you don’t want to be).
The reasons Births, Deaths and Marriage collect all this information is so they know who you are by your date of birth, parent’s information and marriage documents.
More information can be found here on the Births, Deaths and Marriages site.
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