You may wish to change your surname once you are married. To make the process a little easier for you, I have outlined what some organisations require when changing a name.

 

If you have married in Australia, you do not need to apply for a change of name by deed poll, you will only need to show a copy of your ‘Official’ Marriage Certificate to the authorities I have listed below.  Please note, that the certificate I presented to you on your wedding day is not your official marriage certificate. It is the certificate that I sent off to Births, Deaths, and Marriages to be registered.  When your marriage has been officially registered, I will contact you to let you know and you can order a copy of the certificate through Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

You will then need to download the application form, from the link below.

 

 

Please be aware, the registration process takes approximately four weeks after the ceremony (up to eight weeks during wedding season, November-March), and the marriage certificate can take an additional two weeks to be mailed to you after you apply.

The first step is to change your name officially is to apply for your official marriage certificate. You will then need to photocopy this and take it to be witnessed by a prescribed authority. Once you have a stack of these witnessed you will need to write a cover letter stating what your name was, the fact that you are now married and what you are changing your name too. You will then mail this off to everyone that needs to know about your name change. For example, your driver’s licence, passport and bank accounts, contact those organisations e.g., VicRoads, the Australian Passport Office or your bank.

You also need to note that you will not receive a new birth certificate if your name is not changed officially through Births, Deaths and Marriages; You will not receive one if your name was changed formally for any other reason than marriage.

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You'll need to give them either:

 

• A marriage certificate, or

• A change of name certificate

 

It is important to note that you do not need to change your name on any documentation if you don't want to. Many newlyweds use their married name in social circles, while keeping their birth name on official documents and for professional purposes.

You also need to note that you will not receive a new birth certificate if your name is not changed officially through Births, Deaths and Marriages; You will not receive one if your name was changed formally for any other reason than marriage.

 

Changing your name is a long process and a lot of women and men choose not to these days, but if you do decide to change it here is what you will need to do:

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What you will need to change:

 

• Passport

 

You will need to complete a passport renewal application form and take it to a post office to be lodged, you will also need to take:

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• A copy of your Marriage Certificate.

• Your current passport

 

*Please note: You can still travel on your current passport to your honeymoon destination, but please ensure you have booked the tickets in the same name that is on your passport.

 

• Driver’s licence

 

You will need to visit your local Vic Roads office and provide a copy of your:

      Marriage Certificate

      Current drivers’ licence

 

When you have changed your name on your passport and drivers licence you will be able to change your name on all the places I have listed below.

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• Ambulance membership

• Australian Business Register if you’re the director of a company

• Australian Electoral Commission

• Australian Organ Donor Register

• Australian Tax Office

• Bank accounts, credit cards, loans,

• Centrelink & family services

• Citylink account

• Council – rates and animal registration

• Car Registration

• Frequent Flyer and other loyalty clubs

• Insurance – car, house, contents, health, life, insurance protection

• Internet Account

• Investments and shares

• Medicare

• Memberships – library, sports clubs, gym

• Mobile phone account

• Pay TV account

• Breakdown Cover

• Real estate agency if you’re renting

• Regular service providers, vet, accountant, lawyer, doctor, dentist

• Superannuation

• Your children’s school

• Your employer

• Your will

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Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that men can also change their names after marriage. There are a variety of options available to all newlyweds.  The Australian passport office has information about how to do this. You can choose from one of the following, you can either retain your surname, acquire your spouse’s surname, or add your spouse’s surname before or after your own without hyphens.

 

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Born overseas and married in Australia

 

If you were born overseas and married in Australia most authorities will accept a copy of:

A copy of your primary identity documents (e.g., your overseas passport, or Australian citizenship certificate) and your Australian marriage certificate.