The certificate you sign and receive during your ceremony is not the certificate used to change your name.
To update your passport, driver’s licence, bank accounts and other records, you need the official marriage certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages, commonly known as BDM.
The official marriage certificate is the only proof you need to get started changing your name after marriage.
The certificate signed during your ceremony is your ceremonial marriage certificate.
It is a lovely record of the day, but it cannot be used to:
Your celebrant must submit your marriage paperwork to Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days of the wedding. Once the marriage has been registered, BDM can issue the official marriage certificate.
Some registries offer decorative or commemorative marriage certificates.
Like the ceremonial certificate, a commemorative certificate is designed as a keepsake. It cannot be used as proof of your marriage or to change your name.
Some certificate packages include both a commemorative certificate and an official marriage certificate. Check exactly what is included before ordering.
Many celebrants offer to order the official marriage certificate for you. Some include the certificate fee in their package, while others charge it separately.
Ask your celebrant:
Do not assume the certificate has been ordered. The official certificate is not automatically sent to every married couple.
If your celebrant has not ordered it, apply directly through Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state or territory where the wedding took place.
This is based on where you were married, not where you live.
For example, if you live in Queensland but were married in New South Wales, order your certificate from NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Most registries accept online applications. You will generally need to:
Easy Name Change provides the application links, available forms, current fees and identification requirements for every Australian state and territory. Select the marriage certificate application for your jurisdiction when building your personalised kit.
There is no single Australia-wide processing time. Timeframes vary between registries and can change during busy wedding seasons.
The overall wait includes:
Many registries offer priority processing or express delivery for an additional fee. Check the current processing times on the BDM website for the state or territory where you married.
Delays can happen if:
If your certificate is taking longer than expected, check with your celebrant that the marriage paperwork was submitted before contacting BDM.
You can start planning and preparing your paperwork, but you need the official marriage certificate before sending any notifications.
While you are waiting, you can:
Easy Name Change customers have an average of 27 organisations to update. Build your personalised kit while you wait, then your paperwork will be ready to send once the certificate arrives.
No. Each organisation has its own proof requirements.
You may be asked to:
Driver licensing authorities and branch-based banks usually need to sight the original certificate in person. Other organisations may accept a photocopy, certified copy or digital copy.
Easy Name Change tells you which proof documents each selected organisation needs and how to provide them.
Read our complete guide to the documents needed to change your name after marriage.
A certified copy is a photocopy that an authorised witness has compared with the original and endorsed as a true copy.
Depending on the organisation and where you live, an authorised witness may include:
Certification rules can vary between organisations, particularly financial institutions and professional registration bodies. Check the organisation’s requirements before having copies certified.
Certified Kit customers can send their signed notifications and original proof documents to Easy Name Change using the registered mail envelope provided. We check the paperwork, prepare the certified copies required by each organisation and securely return the original certificate by registered mail. We also provide scanned certified copies for notifications that can be submitted electronically.
Check every detail as soon as the certificate arrives.
If a name, date or other detail is incorrect, contact the BDM registry that issued it. You may need to provide supporting documents before the registry can correct and replace the certificate.
Fix any errors before using the certificate to update your identification and accounts. Otherwise, the incorrect information may be copied onto your new records.
Once your official marriage certificate arrives, Easy Name Change can prepare the forms, letters, emails and instructions needed to update your name with the organisations you select.
Simply review your paperwork, attach the required proof and send each notification.