Whether you're taking a partner's surname, reverting to your maiden name, or combining both, changing your last name across every organisation you deal with is the part nobody warns you about. We make it simple.
The surname options after marriage
- Take your spouse's surname — the most common choice. Your marriage certificate is all the proof you need.
- Hyphenate — combine both surnames with a hyphen (Smith-Jones). Your marriage certificate covers it.
- Double-barrelled (no hyphen) — written as two words (Smith Jones), also covered by your marriage certificate.
- Maiden name as a middle name — move your maiden name to the middle and take your spouse's surname. A lovely way to keep your identity.
Combining surnames in a way that isn't strictly your spouse's name, or changing your first name too, generally requires a formal change through Births, Deaths and Marriages. See our guide to changing your name legally.
Reverting your surname after divorce
After a divorce you can return to your previous surname. Many organisations accept your marriage certificate or proof of divorce to revert your name — though some may require a formal change of name, depending on your circumstances.
How we make it online and easy
Once you've decided on your new surname, you still have to update it everywhere — your licence, Medicare, the ATO, your bank, super, insurers and more. Rather than repeating your details to each, you enter them once with us and we prepare every notification for you. Choose how much you'd like us to do, from emailing you the prepared letters through to submitting on your behalf.
Note: certified copies of your proof of name change are required by most organisations. It's your responsibility to arrange these — a Justice of the Peace or other notary must sight the originals to certify the copies.