How to Change Your Name After Marriage

Do You Need to Legally Change Your Name After Marriage?

This is the question that confuses most people. The short answer for most Australians is: no formal legal application required.

In Australia, there are two ways to change your name after marriage:

1. Name change by usage / association (the most common method)
If you were married in Australia and want to take your spouse's surname — or create a hyphenated/double-barrelled version of both surnames — you don't need to lodge any formal paperwork with the government. You simply present your official registered marriage certificate to each organisation and ask them to update their records.

This is not a legal name change application; it is a notification process. You are exercising your right to be known by your new name.

Changing your name by marriage only covers your surname. You cannot change your given (first) names or middle names using a marriage certificate. A formal BDM application is required for that.

2. Formal change of name through BDM
If you want to change to an entirely new name that is not your spouse's current surname, or if you want to change your first or middle names (which you cannot do via marriage certificate), you'll need to lodge a formal application with your state's Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and pay a fee.

You will be issued a Change of Name Certificate.

What confuses many newlyweds is the idea that their name isn't "changed" until they have new ID.

That's not quite right.

You have the right to use your new name from the moment you have your registered marriage certificate. Updating your ID documents is simply informing organisations of that change, not creating it.

Step 1

Step 1 to Changing Your Name: Choose Your New Name

Before you can change your name anywhere, you need to know what you're changing it to. You have more options than most people realise and your choice determines what process you'll need to follow:

Take your spouse's surname

Still the most common choice. One partner (or both) adopts the other's surname. It's the simplest option and requires only your registered marriage certificate as proof.

Either spouse can make this change, it's not limited to brides. Once upon a time only brides could change their name this way and the grooms had to go through an official name change. This is no longer the case.

For example. Lily Black marries Tom White.
Lily becomes Lily White OR Tom Becomes Tom Black.

Hyphenate your surnames

Combine both surnames with a hyphen, e.g. Smith-Jones. Around 5% of Australian couples go this route. Both partners can hyphenate, and the surnames can appear in either order. Your marriage certificate is sufficient proof.

For example. Lily Black marries Tom White.
Lily changes her name to Lily Black-White, or Lily White-Black. Tom can also change his name to the same. (Or, of course Tom can be the only one to hyphante, they both don't have to).

Double barrel (no hyphen)

Similar to hyphenating, but written as two words with a space: White Black. Also covered by your marriage certificate. Note: some state roads authorities have occasionally pushed back on accepting a marriage certificate for double barrelled names. Frustratingly, it can vary by centre and customer service officer you talk to. If you encounter this, send an email inquiry before attending in person so you have a written response to reference.

Keep your maiden name as a middle name

A growing trend: move your maiden name to the middle name position and take your spouse's name as your new surname. So Lily Anne Black becomes Lily Black White. (This isn't a great example, but you get the point!)
This is a lovely way to retain identity.

Create an entirely new name

You can choose a brand new surname that neither of you currently holds. Both partners can adopt it, or just one. However, this requires a formal BDM change-of-name application, not just a marriage certificate. The cheapest approach if you both want a new name: one partner formally changes their name with BDM before the wedding, then the other uses the marriage certificate to take on that name after. It means only one name change application form and fee.

Using your spouse's name socially only?

If you only want to use your new name among family and friends, not on official documents, you don't need to do anything formal. This is called name by association and is perfectly legal. If that's you, you're done! The remaining steps are only needed if you want to update your ID and official records.

Step 2

Step 2 to Changing Your Name: Get Your Marriage / Name Change Certificate

To change your name on official documents and with organisations, you need evidence of your name change. For most people taking a spouse's surname, that evidence is your registered marriage certificate issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM).

Why you need the registered certificate, not the commemorative one

Your marriage celebrant hands you a beautiful certificate on the day. Keep it, but don't try to use it for a name change. It's a commemorative keepsake only and is not accepted as official proof by government agencies, banks, or most other organisations (it will be accepted by some, but this is becoming increasingly rare).

Your official, legally recognised certificate is issued by your state or territory's BDM office after your celebrant has registered the marriage.

BDM does not automatically send you this certificate — you need to order it separately. You can do this online, by post, or in person. Ordering online or by post will take time, usually around 10 days to process, if you go in person to the BDM you can get it on the spot.

How long does it take? Your celebrant must register the marriage within 14 days of the ceremony. BDM processing then takes around 4 weeks, though it can vary by state and during busy periods. Order it as soon as you can, you can't start changing anything until it arrives. (Some celebrants will order it for you, check in advance).

Honeymoon travel coming up? If you're travelling within 2–3 months of your wedding, do not change your name before you travel. Keep all flights, visas and accommodation booked in your original name and wait until you return. Airlines often charge hundreds of dollars for a name change on tickets, and proving a new married name without updated photo ID can cause serious delays at the border.

Order your certificate from your state BDM

Contact the BDM in the state or territory where your marriage was registered (not the state where you live):

• Victoria (VIC BDM)
• New South Wales (NSW BDM)
• ACT BDM
• Queensland (QLD BDM)
• Western Australia (WA BDM)
• South Australia (SA BDM)
• Northern Territory (NT BDM)
• Tasmania (TAS BDM)

Step 3

Step 3 to Changing Your Name: Update Your ID and Notify Organisations

This is the time-consuming part. The average Australian bride changes her name with around 55 organisations — not counting social media. Plan to spend around 10-12 hours across several days or weeks, as every organisation has its own process.

The recommended order

Follow this sequence to make the process as smooth as possible. Each step makes the next one easier, because you build up a set of ID in your new name that other organisations will accept:

1. Driver's licence — your most important piece of photo ID
2. Medicare card — quick to update and widely accepted
3. Passport — requires your updated driver's licence as supporting ID
4. Banks and financial institutions
5. ATO, Centrelink, AEC and other government agencies
6. Superannuation, insurance, employer
7. Everything else — subscriptions, memberships, utilities, social media

How to change your name with key organisations

DRIVER'S LICENCE

Visit your state's roads authority in person (e.g. Service NSW, VicRoads, TMR Queensland). Bring your registered marriage certificate and your current licence. A new licence is usually mailed within 1–2 weeks and is often free of charge when you hand in your old card.

MEDICARE

The fastest method: call Medicare on 132 011 during business hours. Have your marriage certificate registration number handy and your name will be updated on the spot. A new card arrives in the post in around 3 weeks. You can also update via myGov online or visit a Services Australia centre in person. Note: your core Medicare card number does not change, but the last number on the card may change. It's recommended that you and your partner go on the same Medicare card for a variety of reasons. To do this you need to sumbit the official form. In this case, your Medicare cared number will change.

PASSPORT

The process will depend on the validity period remaining on your current passport, and the timeframe you apply within. Confused? Get your updated driver's licence first, as it is usually required as supporting ID. Allow up to 6 weeks for standard processing, or pay for priority if you need it sooner. Visit passports.gov.au for current requirements. Our name change kit will explain your options, provide you with forms and application links, and help you with your passport name change.

AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE (ATO)

The easiest way is via your myGov account: go to My Profile → Personal Details and update your name. You'll need your BDM marriage certificate registration number. You can also call the ATO on 13 28 61. If you have an ABN, update your name separately through the Australian Business Register.

AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION (AEC)

Update online at aec.gov.au and upload a scanned copy of your marriage certificate. The update usually applies within a few days and confirmation is sent by post or email. Keeping this current avoids issues with jury duty correspondence or election notices arriving in the wrong name.

If it's close to election time, check if the change will be made in time or if you need to vote in your maiden name.

BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Most banks accept your registered marriage certificate in person at a branch. Some also allow updates online or by post. Start with your main bank, then work through credit cards, home loans, and other accounts. Once your driver's licence and Medicare card reflect your new name, these make the process much faster.

Full checklist of places to update

Other common organisations to notify include:

• Superannuation funds
• Private health, life, car and home insurance
• Employer / payroll / HR
• Centrelink / Services Australia
• Your will — important: marriage automatically revokes most previously written wills in Australia
• Utilities (electricity, gas, internet)
• Loyalty programmes and memberships
• Professional licences and registrations
• Subscriptions and online accounts
• Social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.)
• You can get a longer checklist on our name change checklist page or get the full checklist in the name change kit.

Need More Help?

Our Name Change Kit includes a complete checklist of all 55+ organisations, step-by-step instructions for each, letter templates, forms, and a contact directory - everything in one downloadable kit.

Married Overseas? Different Rules Apply

If you were married outside Australia, you cannot automatically use your foreign marriage certificate to update your name on Australian ID documents. Most Australian government agencies require a certificate issued by an Australian BDM, which means you will need to lodge a formal change-of-name application with your state BDM..

If you are not an Australian citizen, the name change process will be different again, and will vary by state.

Top Tips for Changing Your Name After Marriage

A few things that will make the whole process much less stressful:

• 1
  ✍️ Practise your new signature — a lot.

  You'll be signing your new name hundreds of times in the coming weeks. Practise before you start so it looks natural from day one.

• 2
  📋 Keep copies of everything.

  Photograph or photocopy your driver's licence, passport and other ID before you hand them in. Many offices require your originals and won't return them until your new ID is issued.

• 3
  ✅ Track your progress.

  Keep a running record of where you've changed your name and what's still outstanding. A simple spreadsheet or the checklist in our Name Change Kit works perfectly.

• 4
  ⚡ Do it as quickly as possible.

  The sooner you work through the list, the less confusing it is. Having two different names active across different accounts and losing track of which is which, is a real headache. Technically, there is no deadline to change your name after marriage. You can update your surname the day your BDM certificate arrives or ten years later, the right doesn't expire. And you can revert to your birth surname at any time, regardless of whether you're still married. (See the note in the FAQ section below). But, once you get started changing your name, it is best to get it done as quickly as possible, and some government organisations require you to change your name with 14 days (for example) of deciding to be known by another name.

Frequently Asked Questions