Changing Your Name!

Some women who marry choose to adopt their new husband's surname. This is perfectly acceptable as is the Bride retaining her own surname after the marriage or the Bridal couple choosing to join their surnames.

A formal change of name at the Registry is not required if you wish to take your husband's name or if you both wish to combine your surnames. A Standard Marriage Certificate is usually sufficient evidence to have personal documentation such as your drivers licence and Australian passport changed to your married name. Banks and other institutes will accept the official marriage certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages as proof of surname.

The Presentation Certificate, with its unique identifying number on the back, presented to you on the date of your marriage is an official document that can be used as evidence of your legal status. While it is not a document of identity like a passport or drivers licence, it is sufficient proof for banks and other institutes to allow each of the bridal couple to cahnge their surnames as explained above.

So to sum up:

There is no legal requirement for you to change your surname officially if you wish to:

• assume your spouse's surname following marriage
• combine your surname with your your spouse's (with or without a hyphen)rr
• return to your maiden name
• resume a former married surname
• return to a previous legal surname which has been officially registered.

You do not need to register a formal change of name if the change falls within one of the above categories. Your Official Marriage Certficate is sufficient proof of your change of name although there may be occassions where you will also need to produce your birth certificate and/or documents showing your (previous) formal change of name as verification.

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