Changing your last name after marriage or separation
Part of the Name changes topic
Learn what you need to do to change your name after marriage, separation or divorce.
On this page
In short
You need to contact each organisation to change your name.
You may need to show them:
- an official marriage certificate
- an official change of name certificate
- a divorce document.
This will depend on whether you got married in Australia or married overseas.
Changing your family name after marriage
If you married in Australia:
- you can take your partner's family name
- both partners can hyphenate their family names.
You don't need to apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to change your name.
You can use your marriage certificate to change your name with organisations.
Born overseas and married in Australia
If you were born overseas and married in Australia, organisations may accept a copy of:
- an identity document (passport or Australian citizenship certificate) and
- your official marriage certificate.
Some organisations may need an official change of name document.
Read more about applying to change your name in Queensland.
Change back to your previous family name
If you were marred in Australia and took your partner's name, you can go back to your previous family name.
This might be due to:
- separation
- divorce
- personal choice.
To update your family name, contact each organisation to find out what they need. You may need your:
- official marriage certificate
- official birth certificate
- divorce document.
Read more about divorce documents on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website.
Changing your family name after marriage
If you married overseas, you may not be able to take your partner's family name automatically.
This is because some organisations don't accept overseas documents as proof of identity.
Some organisations may need an official change of name document.
Read more about applying to change your name in Queensland.
Change back to your previous family name
You will need to change your name at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages if:
- you married overseas and
- previously changed your name with us to your partner's name.
To update your family name, contact each organisation to find out what they need. You may need your:
- official birth certificate
- official change of name certificate (if applicable).
Managed by: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages