Discover the essential steps for changing your name after marriage. This comprehensive guide details a straightforward 5-step process to ensure all necessary organisations are notified and your identification documents are reissued.
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Get Your Marriage Certificate
Obtain your official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
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In-Person Name Changes
Update your driver’s license, bank details, and Centrelink records.
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DIY or Name Change Kit
Choose between researching and updating each organisation yourself or using a convenient name change kit.
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Complete Research Before Paperwork
Plan your paperwork by researching all organisations that need to be notified.
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Update Your Passport
Change your passport after any planned international travel using your former name.
Once you’ve been married and made the decision to change names it’s your responsibility to notify all necessary organisations of your new name. This includes getting your identification documents reissued and updating your accounts and memberships. Once you start the name change process, it’s recommended you complete all the paperwork within a few weeks or you could have issues when applying for credit, a new job or when proving your identity.
1. Get your marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages
Check with your celebrant if they have arranged for the official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) to be sent. Otherwise you can apply on your state BDM website or by mail. Your marriage certificate is the only proof required to start using your new name, providing you take one of the standard married names. Taking your spouse’s surname after marriage is not a legal name change, you are simply assuming their name. Your birth certificate does not change and you can resume use of your former name at any time. If you were married overseas you can’t get an Australian marriage certificate, so you’ll need to apply for a legal name change.
2. In person name changes
No matter what state you are in, all driver’s licences need to be updated in person. Some states have a form and may charge a small licence replacement fee. Attend your state licence issuing centre with your original BDM marriage certificate and current licence. Location based banks, such as CommBank, ANZ and Bendigo Bank need to be updated in person. Smaller banks without locations can be done by mail. Centrelink also needs to be done in person.
3. Decide if you will use a name change kit or DIY
From this point the name change process is different for everyone, as it depends on your unique combination of companies. Newlyweds have an average of 25 organisations to update. Places like Medicare and Superannuation are usually done by mail. Utilities are generally done by email. If you decide to do all the research yourself then we recommend creating a comprehensive company checklist. Contact every organisation where you hold identification, an account or membership. Learn the process for each company, then get ready to send a letter, form, email or follow a different process. Organisations have different proof requirements – original, certified or photocopy of your marriage certificate. Some may need certified photo ID.
If you use a name change kit all the research and paperwork will be done for you. Simply check off your companies and get fully researched company name change instructions along with personalised and ready to send forms, letters and emails. Check the enclosure notes on each notification for that company’s proof requirements.
4. Finish the research before starting paperwork (If you’re doing it yourself)
It’s best to get all the research done first so you can plan your paperwork. Most companies need proof, so scan your marriage certificate and know how many photocopies and certified copies to make. Once you’ve got all the forms and letters done, attach your marriage certificate as needed and send off!
5. Passport
If you have international travel booked under your former name then leave your passport until travel has been completed. It’s legal to use a passport in your former name, even if you have changed names everywhere else. When you are ready, visit https://www.passports.gov.au/. Complete the online form and print off the 2 page summary. Have a guarantor sign the summary and attend a passport interview at a participating Australia Post outlet within 28 days. The site will list what original proof documents are required, in addition to your marriage certificate. You can get passport photos taken at most post offices when lodging the form. Check the Passports website for current processing times. Australian passports are reissued free of charge if they have more than 2 years remaining.
Most companies will not confirm your name change
Most companies update your account within 3 to 5 working days of receiving your name change request. Some take longer! The ATO takes 4 weeks from when they receive your mailed form (but it’s instant via myGov). Medicare takes 4 weeks by mail, plus 3 weeks for a new card. Passports take between 4 and 6 weeks following your passport interview. Most companies will not confirm when your name is updated, so keep an eye on your statements and accounts. Check if your name is updated when you next log into your account or receive correspondence.
Hate paperwork?
If you’d rather not waste time on hold, searching for forms or writing letters we can take care of this all for you. Simply check off your companies and get researched name change instructions and ready to send notifications. Click the button below to start.
