How do I change my name when I get married?

Hi Lucy,

You will be surprised, how many places you will need to change your name - Wow.  After you have recieved your certificate from Births, Marriages and Deaths you will need to notify all the relevant bodies.  ATO, Drivers Licence, Passport, Banks etc. Some place will accept the certificate given to you on the day by your celebrant, but not many. 

There is a kit called "change your name" which you fill in and all the relevant bodies are notified.  Not sure how much this kit costs but it is under $30.

Hope this info clears this up for you.

Regards,

Jan 

Your celebrant can certainly help you with this question.  Basically, it is quite simple.  You just need to apply for a copy of your official marriage certificate from the Births, Deaths and Marriages office (your marriage will be registered in the state where you were married), and once you have that, you can change your name.  I often tell my brides to start at the Transport Department, and get a drivers' licence issued in the new surname first as at least there will be one form of photo ID with the new name on it that can be used at banks etc

Hi Lucy

Your celebrant can lodge the Official Certificate of Marriage for you to Births deaths and Marriages. This is the document you will need to do a name change. 

You are allowed, as a bride, to merely a adopt your partners surname

There is no need to formally change your name as this is automatically recognise when the paperwork is lodged and processed

Hi Lucy,

Your Celebrant should be able to help you with that. One your marriage has been registered and you have applied for and received your Official Marriage Certificate you can go onto the BDM Website for your state and follow their proceedure for Change of Name after a Marriage.

Hi Lucy

After the wedding ceremony the Celebrant will present you with a Certificate of Marriage and then send all your relevent details to the State Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages. You will then have to apply for the formal certificate which usually takes about 6 weeks to enable you to change your name officially for passports, bank accounts. etc. You can do this on line at www.bdm.nsw.gov.au

In the meantime, you may use your new married name. Best wishes, Helen Pickering CMC

Hi Lucy. It's quite easy. On your wedding day you sign the Register under your current name, but after the ceremony, you can immediately start to use your husband's name, if you wish. After the ceremony you will receive a Presentation Certificate, but this is not in most cases sufficient to use for changing your name. You will need to apply for a copy of your registered marriage certificate from The Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages in the State in which you were married. You need to attend to your passport and driver's licence bank accounts etc. Your Celebrant will advise you of this as well. Regards Sharen Pelly Marriage Celebrant.

The celebrants have explaned it well below. I usually offer my couples JP certified copies of their BDM certificate for that purpose. I am a NSW Justice of the Peace.

Hi Lucy, Easy, every Celebrant in NSW should supply, complete and submit on your behalf an Application for Marriage Certificate to BDM immediately after your wedding. The certificate will arrive at your address about 2 weeks later. You then take that document to all the places you wish to change your name e.g motor registry, bank passport etc., It is your cost of $53 credit card details on application form. Best wishes Brian Loomes Celebrant.

Hi Lucy,

It is very easy !

After you receive your official certificate from Births Deaths and Marriages you take it to the Service Australia Office in your city

and they will change your drivers license and Passport free of charge for you

Best Wishes

Marg Kish xx