After marriage
Congratulations. If you married in Australia, the good news is that the official part is already done. Here is what you actually need, and how Surname Switch updates everyone else for you.
When you marry in Australia, you can take or add your partner's surname straight away. There is no deed poll and no separate application. Your official marriage certificate is all the proof you need.
One document does the heavy lifting: your official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state you married. This is the legal certificate you order, not the decorative one the celebrant hands you on the day. Organisations will only accept the official version.
That last part is the grind, and it is exactly what Surname Switch removes. We tell you the smartest order and write each message for you.
If your passport has two or more years left, you can usually get a free reissue in your married name within a set window after your wedding. Worth doing early, because your passport name should match your travel bookings.
Update your driver licence and Medicare first. Once your photo ID shows your new name, banks and everyone else accept the change with far less fuss. Then move to money, then the everyday accounts. Your plan lays this out for you automatically.
Married overseas?
If you married outside Australia, a foreign certificate often is not accepted on its own here, so you may need to register a formal change first. The questionnaire checks this for you and explains exactly what to do, so you are never guessing.
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