What’s in a name?

So the big day is done and dusted, you may have had some time away with your other half to get used to this marriage thing, but life is now starting to return to normal. Your new normal though might be with a new surname. Whether you have decided to take your partners name, or you have both decided to change your name to a combo of your surnames, there is a mammoth task ahead of you. So, where to start???

One hot tip is to get a couple of certified copies of your marriage certificate, certified by a Justice of the Peace. Some companies will ask for these copies to be sent in, and getting them certified early on can save heaps of time. Also get a couple of copies of your Drivers license in your old name too, as you may need to surrender your Drivers License.

Get your local JP to certify some copies

Your first stop should be for photo ID. With your freshly printed marriage certificate in hand, head to The Department of Transport, for updated drivers license or Proof of Age cards.

Next stop should be passport, if you have one. Then you get to start working your way through the list below. Contacting each business or department, asking what their procedure is for a name change and completing their process.

This list will get you sorted

Drivers License / Proof of Age Card

Passport

Medicare

ATO

Electrol Roll

Work

Bank

Credit cards

Store Cards

Super Funds

Council

Centrelink

Electricity

Gas

Water

Insurances

Phone

Internet Provider

Keep notes on who and when you submitted your name change info, so you can follow up if it hasn’t gone through in the time you would expect.

And remember, that even once you think you have finished and changed your name everywhere, a couple of weeks or months later, a letter will arrive in the mail and you will realise that you forgot one. Happens to all of us :)

You will always find one that you missed