Rules for changing your name

Part of the Name changes topic

Understand the rules you must follow when you want to legally change your name in Queensland.

If you want to change your name, you must follow certain rules.

These rules apply to legal name changes registered with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Use these rules when you change your name.

You must

Apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to legally change your name.

Live in Queensland for at least the past 12 months if you were born or adopted overseas.

Correct. Have written approval from a Chief Executive of Corrective Services or Police Commissioner if:

you are in the custody of Corrective Services or a released prisoner under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003
you are a reportable offender under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2004.

Change your name if you have already changed it in the past 12 months.

Change your name for fraudulent or improper purposes.

Change your name more than 3 times in your adult life.

Change your name if you choose a prohibited name.

You can make certain kinds of name changes that don't count towards the limit. These include:

name changes made before you turn 18
name changes that are not registered with the government, such as using a different last name after marriage or separation
name changes made before 24 June 2024, when the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulation 2024 came into effect.

These apply for change of name applications:

when you were born in another state or territory
when you were born overseas, and have not yet lived in Queensland for 12 continuous months
to change your name within 12 months of a previous name change
to change your name when you previously have changed your name 3 or more times within your adult life.

The reason for applying for an exception can include:

Find more information in the change of name (adult) policy.