Thank you Leanne Booker Celebrant for sharing…….
Changing your surname to your spouse’s name after you are married is a custom and not required by law.
If you would like to change your surname and you were married in Australia, then you do not need to formally apply for a change of name with the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages.
You can immediately start using your new married name.
What you will need to do is tell everyone your new name such as banks and government agencies like Medicare and change all your personal documentation such as driver’s licence and passport.
Different organisations have different requirements to change your name in their system so you will need to:
1. Make a list of who you need to tell (examples below)
2. Contact each organisation and ask them what evidence do they need AND what is the process eg by letter, visit to their office, by email etc.
In most cases they will want to at least see your “official marriage certificate”.
The official marriage certificate is not the commemorative (ie pretty certificate) you are given at your wedding ceremony.
Even though married and your celebrant registering your marriage, you must still apply for the official certificate which involves three forms of ID and a registration fee.
My gift is to prepare the application, lodge and pay the registration fee (all you do is sign).
If you were born overseas and married here those organisations you need to change your name with may require you to formally apply to the Registry for a change of name and the official marriage certificate may not be sufficient. Just ask them.
Who To Tell…
passport, driver’s licence, car registration, bank accounts, credit cards, Australian Tax Office, local council, Australian Electoral Commission enrolment, Medicare, private health fund, insurance policies, doctor & dentist, superannuation, accountant, your will (talk to your lawyer) subscriptions, memberships, landlord if you rent, body corporate if you own a unit.