Returning to your former name after separation or divorce is usually straightforward. If you assumed your spouse’s surname after marrying in Australia, you can generally resume your former name without registering a legal name change.
You do not need to wait until your divorce is finalised. Most organisations will ask for your official Australian marriage certificate together with either your birth certificate or divorce order.
If you have been married more than once, married overseas or registered a legal name change, read our complete guide to changing names after divorce or separation.
Create your free personalised checklist
The average Easy Name Change customer has 27 organisations to update.
Easy Name Change lets you browse more than 750 Australian organisations across 16 categories. Select the companies and services you use to create a personalised divorce name change checklist.
Your free personalised checklist gives you one place to track exactly which organisations you need to notify and which name changes are still outstanding.
Make your FREE custom checklist
Who do you need to notify?
Your name change checklist may include:
- driver licence and vehicle registration
- passport
- Medicare, Centrelink and the ATO
- banks, credit cards and loans
- superannuation funds
- employers and payroll
- insurance providers
- utilities and telecommunications
- professional registrations
- memberships, subscriptions and loyalty programs
Most people have more accounts than they initially remember. Missing an organisation can leave important financial, identity or membership records in your married name and make future identity checks more difficult.
Want help preparing the paperwork?
You can research each organisation’s requirements and complete the name changes yourself using your free checklist.
If you would rather skip the research and paperwork, upgrade to an Easy Name Change kit. We provide the available forms, personalised letters, email templates, submission instructions and proof-of-name requirements for the organisations you select.
Simply review your paperwork, attach the required identity documents and send each notification.
