The official marriage certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages is the only proof you need to get started changing your name after marriage.
The marriage certificate allows you to:
Your birth or citizenship certificate does not change, and you do not need to apply for a legal name change.
The ceremonial certificate signed on your wedding day cannot be used to change your name.
Your official marriage certificate proves the link between your former surname and married surname.
Some organisations also need to confirm your identity before changing their records. They may ask for photo identification, account details or a signed form alongside your marriage certificate.
These are supporting identity documents. They are not additional proof of your married name.
Every organisation has its own requirements. Easy Name Change tells you which documents each organisation needs, whether copies must be certified and how to send your request.
You will usually need the original marriage certificate when changing your name in person.
Take the original certificate when visiting:
Although it is not always required, we recommend also taking government-issued photo identification. It does not matter if your photo ID is still in your former name because the marriage certificate connects the two names.
Your personalised Easy Name Change checklist explains which organisations require an in-person visit, so you can group these appointments together.
Many organisations accept a standard photocopy, scan or photograph of your official marriage certificate.
Depending on the process, you may upload the certificate through an online account, attach it to an email or post a photocopy with a form or letter.
Scan both sides if there is information printed on the back. Make sure every detail is clear and the full certificate is visible.
Keep a good-quality digital copy ready before you start. This saves rescanning the certificate for every online or email notification.
Easy Name Change prepares your personalised forms, letters and emails and tells you exactly which copy to attach to each one.
A certified copy is a photocopy that an authorised witness has compared with the original and endorsed as a true copy.
Certified copies are commonly requested when an organisation needs stronger identity evidence but cannot sight the original in person.
Some banks, superannuation funds, insurers and professional registration bodies may require certified copies. Their instructions can specify:
Do not assume that one organisation’s certification rules will apply everywhere. Check the instructions before getting your copies certified.
Who can certify a document depends on the organisation receiving it and where you live.
An authorised witness may include:
Some organisations only accept certain witness types. Financial institutions and professional registration bodies can have especially detailed certification rules.
Always check the organisation’s instructions before asking someone to certify your documents. There is nothing more annoying than getting a stack of copies certified, only to go back because they did not meet the company’s exact requirements.
Easy Name Change checks and records these certification requirements when maintaining our organisation procedures.
Usually not.
Most organisations can change your name using your official marriage certificate and existing identification in your former name.
However, a small number of organisations require photo identification that has already been updated into your married name. This is why many Easy Name Change customers choose to update their driver’s licence early.
There is no compulsory order for changing names, but updated government-issued photo identification can make some later changes easier. Your Easy Name Change checklist explains which organisations need updated identification, helping you complete them in the right order.
If your marriage took place in Australia, order the official certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state or territory where the wedding occurred.
Your celebrant may already have ordered it for you.
Read our complete guide to ordering your official marriage certificate and understanding the difference between ceremonial, commemorative and official certificates.
If you married overseas, you cannot order an Australian marriage certificate for that marriage.
Some organisations may accept a foreign marriage certificate, but most banks and identification changes require proof issued by an Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. You will generally need to apply for a legal name change before updating your Australian identification and accounts.
Read our guide to changing your name in Australia after an overseas marriage.
Easy Name Change maintains name change procedures for more than 750 Australian organisations.
Select the organisations you need to notify and we prepare your personalised forms, letters and emails. Each notification explains:
Certified Kit customers can send their signed notifications and original proof documents to Easy Name Change in the registered mail envelope provided. We check the paperwork, prepare the required certified copies and securely return the original documents by registered mail.
Instead of guessing which documents to send, you receive the exact requirements for every organisation you select.