How Do I Change My Name Back To My Maiden Name

Whether you take recently separated or have been divorced for some time, changing back to your maiden proper name can seem similar a daunting task.

By Meghan Read, Graduate Lawyer at Australian Family unit Lawyers, Canberra, ACT

When yous are going through a separation, you are dealing with and then many important issues relating to your finances, property, and children that you might beginning putting some tasks like irresolute your proper name into a 'too hard basket'.

Many people choose to change their name for diverse reasons – personal choice, wedlock, or separation. It is important to remember that names are non legal holding – y'all cannot exist forced to keep or change your name, and yous can cull to keep a surname taken 'in marriage' also. It is entirely up to you.

As family lawyers, common questions nosotros are asked are; When tin I change my proper name? Do I have to wait until I am divorced?

The short answer is no! You don't have to wait until you lot're divorced. You can change your name whenever you like. To action your proper name alter, there are a few things y'all need to consider, which nosotros've provided for you below.

1. Did you legally change your name?

Many couples in Australia choose to 'adopt' their spouses' surname, and well-nigh government departments will accept your Marriage Document every bit prove to activeness the name modify. In this case, you practice not take to register the change of name with Birth, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). However, if you lot did register the alter of name with BDM, then y'all volition demand to register your request to change your name with them over again.

2. Take you been married before or e'er been known by another name?

If you've been married before, you might need to produce testify of that marriage certificate forth with your nascency document to register your request for a proper name alter. You may also require proof of your divorce for prior marriages.

3. What documents do you lot need to alter your name?

Woman changing back to her maiden name after divorce australia documents

To update your name, yous volition need either an original or certified copy of the following documents:

Birth Document
Matrimony Certificate
Divorce Order (if applicable)

Once you've got these, you're fix to get started. If you need assistance to locate a copy of these documents, yous tin contact Birth Deaths and Marriages in your State or Territory:

4. What should I prioritise when changing back to my maiden name after divorce?

The easiest place to kickoff, and arguably the most important, is your driver'south licence. This is because actioning your name change in other places might require photo ID. It is going to be much easier to present your ID to other organisations if you lot action this outset!

The next particular on the list, your passport.

While COVID has put travel plans on hold, this is perhaps the side by side most important obstacle to conquer. A word of warning with travel – you need to make sure yous fourth dimension it correctly. If you accept travel booked in your married name, take care to alter it earlier travelling.

There is nothing worse than getting to the boarding gate and realising your passport and ticket don't match! This can crusade a lot of unnecessary stress with airlines, and so to get you where you want to go stress-gratuitous, carefully ensure y'all activity your name alter for all details of your travel plans, including tickets, bookings, insurance and your ID.

Places to update your name records

Even though it might seem overwhelming at commencement, changing dorsum to your maiden name doesn't have to be daunting. To help guide you through the process, we have prepared the below list of all the practical places you might need to action your name change:

Licence/s
Passport, visa, travel documents
Financial institutions (banks, loans etc.)
Registrations or ownership (Cars, boats, property, registered items, leases)
Insurance (abode and contents, medical, pets etc.)
Electoral commission
Utilities (phone, internet, electricity, gas and water etc.)
Subscriptions (postal service, streaming services, loyalty programs etc.)
Employer or education provider
Superannuation
Medicare / Centrelink
Clubs, affiliations, and memberships

While this isn't an exhaustive list, information technology should certainly give y'all a great place to commencement!

Potential issues in changing your proper noun

Bear in mind that some of these name changes will require yous to fill up out forms, and some of them may even incur a cost.

There are some common reasons why organisations and departments pass up name changes, so y'all should be careful to ensure that you don't have any outstanding debts, previous undisclosed offences, or failures to advise of previous name changes. You must besides ensure that your desired name alter isn't restricted or prohibited in any way, which you can check with your state or territory's Births Deaths and Union registry.

In some instances, there are also fourth dimension restrictions to consider – if a change of name has been registered or actioned in the terminal 12 months, you may have to await the required flow before altering your name 'officially' once again.

What most the kids?

In Commonwealth of australia, both parents' consent is required to change a child'due south name as this is considered a 'major issues conclusion' relating to a child. It is important to annotation that, though, is if the child is aged 12 years or older, their wishes volition be considered.

Demand some more help?

Australian Family Lawyers are responsive and accessible, and we have a squad of lawyers located across Australia, who are highly skilled and experienced in divorce and separation matters.