Some information about changing your name after marriage

CHANGING YOUR NAME AFTER MARRIAGE


Once you are married, you have a few options regarding your name.

It is traditional in our culture for a woman to change her surname to her husband’s surname after marriage but it is not legally compulsory. Some men decide that they want to adopt their new wife’s surname. This is possible also.

Your options are:
1. You can leave your surname as it is and take no action.

2. You can change your surname to your husband’s surname.

3. You can have a hyphenated name which is a combination of both surnames, eg Smith-Jones.

4. You can use both names in different settings, ie, you may wish to retain your previous name for work or professional use and adopt your spouse’s name for family and other uses.

5. If you wish to adopt a different surname altogether, you will need to go through the legal name change procedure. This is done through Births, Deaths & Marriages.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How soon should I change my name? There is no time limit and you may change to your married name at any time after your wedding.

• What documents do I need to change my name? Most importantly, your registered marriage certificate. Some places may need other proof of identity.

• Who do I have to notify and how do I do it? You will have about 20 to 30 companies & government departments to notify, eg, RTA, your employer, Tax Department, phone company, etc. etc.

• Is there any easy way to do this? There are a number of providers who will prepare all of your name change documents online for a small charge.

• Two that I know of are http://www.easynamechange.com.au/  and http://www.afterthewedding.com.au/

• There are other companies as well & you will be able to find them by searching on the web.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can we be married anywhere we like in Australia? YES

2. Can we be married at any time of the day or night or on any day of the year? YES

3. Can we be married in whatever clothes we like? YES
4 Can we be married in Sydney when we arrive from overseas (see legal requirements)? YES

5 Do we have to have a blood test? NO

6 Do we only need 2 witnesses? YES Can they be members of our family, if they are over 18 years? YES
7 Will we be given a wedding certificate on the day? YES - and you will receive a registered wedding certificate about two weeks after the ceremony.

8 Will our wedding be accepted world wide? YES - some countries require that your registered marriage certificate has an Apostille stamp, obtained from Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.

9 Can we write our own Ceremony? YES (as long as I make sure that it complies with the law)
10 Can our friends read a poem? YES

11 Can you recommend a photographer for us? YES

12 Can you assist in our choice of venue? Yes
13 Can we be married if we are under 18 years? NO, only one can be under 18. (and then you need permission of the court)
14 Can we hyphenate our surnames? YES for more information go to www.easynamechange.com.au
15 Do I have to take my husbands name? NO
16 Can I marry a person of my own sex? NO However, many gay & lesbian couples choose to have a Commitment or Civil Union ceremony which follows a similar form to a wedding.

17 Do we have to have wedding rings? NO
18 Can I be given away by a person who is not a member of my family? YES

19 Do we need to have my birth certificate, divorce papers and death certificate translated into English? YES
20 If we have already produced our birth certificates, divorce papers and/or death certificates do we need to provide them again on our wedding day? NO
21 Can you help us with a letter of support for a Fiance Visa (or Prospective Marriage Visa) YES for more information, go to  www.sydneycelebrantelainesearle.com.au

22 What if I have other questions that are not answered here?  
Contact me on esearle@optusnet.com.au or on 02 9979 2315, mob. 0402810062 and we can have a chat about your needs and ideas.