Changing Name After Marriage?
WEDDING BLOG CATEGORIES
Changing Name After Marriage?
A massive congratulations on your wedding! No doubt one of the questions you were asked on your wedding day is if you are changing names. It surprises many people that about 75% of brides still choose to drop their former name and take their spouse’s.
Name Change Options
There are more name change options though. One is adding your spouse’s surname to yours, where the names can appear in either order. You may also choose to take your spouse’s surname on all accounts and identification but still use your former name professionally. The same name change options are available to either spouse and companies only require your marriage certificate as proof of your new name.
So how do you change names?
It can be a burdensome task that’s only undertaken once in a lifetime, so it takes a bit of time to learn what to do then get it all done. Follow these tips to save some time and frustration!
Your celebrant orders the marriage certificate from Births Deaths and Marriages on your behalf, saving you sending in certified identification and filling out more forms. The official marriage certificate arrives about 2 weeks after your wedding is officiated.
Pro tip: Save 8 hours with a name change notification kit from Easy Name Change. Kits start from $35. If you do this, then you can skip steps 3 to 6!
Take some time to make a list of all the companies you need to notify of your new name. This could be anywhere from 10 to over 50 different companies: Medicare, ATO, AEC, driver licence, passport, insurance policies, utilities, superannuation, online accounts and more. For pointers on which companies you need to notify you can get the full list here.
Contact each company on your list. Ask their name change process and get their forms, mailing address and find out what proof to include. Check if proof should be certified.
Arrange for photocopies and certified copies of your marriage certificate. This could be anywhere from 5 to 20 copies, with about one quarter needing to be certified. Some companies may also require certified copies of photo ID. (Easy Name Change provides this service only for certified kit customers.)
Complete any necessary forms, write letters and emails where your name change needs to be notified in writing. Add proof and send.
Follow up any name changes that can’t be done in writing. You may need to call or log into your account. There may be 2 or 3 places where you need to visit a branch in person, with your bank card and driver licence.
Once You’ve Changed Your Name
Many companies don’t write back to you confirming the name change has taken place. You will find your name is eventually updated as you log into your accounts and when you receive statements. Whilst most companies update your name within 3 working days of receiving your request, companies like Medicare and the ATO take over 4 weeks.
Sydney Marriage Celebrant
and Wedding MC
Gary is a Sydney Marriage Celebrant and Wedding MC based in The Northern Beaches of NSW. He is an enthusiastic, grounded, fun-loving and relaxed Wedding Celebrant and Professional Wedding MC and is a Preferred Supplier at: The Boat House - Zephyr -Bathers - Long Reef Golf Club - Zest - Waldara - Mali Brae Farm and Redleaf.
He was an electrician by trade, but now is a full-time marriage celebrant who enjoys outdoor sports, kayaking, marrying legends, firing up the barbie with friends and spinning a good yarn.
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