Getting a change of identify after divorce reverses the custom of a married couple having the identical identify.
For many individuals, it is a important a part of the separation course of.
Altering a surname after a wedding has lengthy been customary for one or each spouses.
Girls are typically recognized by their husband’s surname after getting married, though in the present day, fewer girls select to take their companion’s identify than up to now.
Many ladies who adopted their husband’s surname upon marriage select to revert to their maiden identify after separation or divorce.
Folks might want to maintain their former partner’s identify or revert to their start identify for numerous causes.
Nevertheless, names usually are not authorized property; nobody could be pressured to make use of or cease utilizing their ex-partner’s identify.
What’s the Course of for Altering My Title After Divorce in Australia?
In Australia, the method for altering your identify after a divorce can rely upon whether or not you want to revert to your maiden identify or undertake a completely new identify.
Reverting to Maiden Title
When you want to revert to your maiden identify after a divorce, you typically don’t must undergo a proper authorized identify change course of. You can begin utilizing your maiden identify at any time following your separation or divorce.
Reverting to your maiden identify after a divorce is usually an easy course of and doesn’t often require a proper identify change. Listed here are the steps to do it:
Resolve to Use Maiden Title: Step one is just utilizing your maiden identify. You may revert to your maiden identify anytime, no matter marital standing.
Notify Related Entities: When you’ve determined to make use of your maiden identify, notify all related events. This consists of your employer, financial institution, the Australian Taxation Workplace, the Division of House Affairs in your passport and the Division of Transport in your driver’s license.
Present Obligatory Documentation: You’ll doubtless want to offer copies of identification paperwork and your divorce decree or marriage certificates. These show your id and present the hyperlink between your married and maiden names.
As an example, to alter the identify in your passport, you’ll want to finish a brand new passport software kind and submit it together with your earlier passport, start certificates, and proof that hyperlinks your whole names should you’ve had completely different names at completely different occasions.
Replace All Data: As soon as your request is accepted, replace all private data and paperwork to replicate your maiden identify. This consists of utility accounts, leases or mortgages, insurance coverage insurance policies, well being data, social media accounts, e mail, and many others.
Adopting a New Title
The method is extra concerned should you want to change your identify to one thing totally new after a divorce. You need to apply to your state or territory’s Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registry for a authorized identify change. This often includes:
- Finishing an software kind
- Paying the relevant charges
- Offering proof of your id
- Presumably offering extra documentation or present process additional checks relying in your state or territory’s necessities
As soon as your software is accepted, you’ll obtain a certificates displaying your new identify, which you should use to replace all of your paperwork and data.
Please observe that the method can differ between states and territories, so checking the particular necessities together with your space’s Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registry is really useful.
Can I Change My children’s Names After Divorce?
Altering a child’s identify after divorce in Australia is feasible, nevertheless it’s extra complicated than altering an grownup’s identify. Usually, you want the consent of each parents to alter a child’s identify. Listed here are the overall steps:
Agree on the Title Change: Step one is for each parents to agree on the identify change. If one parent doesn’t agree, the opposite parent can apply to a court for an order to alter the child’s identify. The court will take into account the child’s finest pursuits when granting the order.
Apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages: If each parents agree or a court order has been obtained, the subsequent step is to use to the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in your state or territory. Usually, supporting paperwork just like the child’s start certificates, proof of any earlier identify modifications, and probably different types of identification should accompany the applying.
Pay the Price: A price is often related to altering a child’s identify. The quantity varies relying on the state or territory.
Obtain the Up to date Start Certificates: If the applying is profitable, you’ll obtain an up to date start certificates displaying the child’s new identify.
When contemplating whether or not or to not change a child’s surname, the court will attain a call primarily based on many concerns, together with:
- The explanations for the identify change
- The will of the opposite parent that the child’s identify stays the identical
- Whether or not the proposed surname is double-barrelled (hyphenated)
- Any doable confusion of id
- The child’s views, relying on their age and maturity
- The impact of the identify change on the child’s relationship with every of their parents
- The period of time the child spends with every parent
- Any short-term embarrassment weighed up in opposition to the long-term results
- Any benefits to protecting the present identify
A New Starting: Aiding with a Surname Change at Justice family Attorneys
A client sought our assist to change her daughter’s surname following a DNA paternity take a look at revelation: the person whose surname the child carried was not her organic father.
At Justice Household Attorneys, we guided the client via the intricate authorized technique of identify change. We demonstrated the circumstances necessitating the change and justified its finest curiosity for the child’s wellbeing.
The Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages efficiently accepted the applying with our robust illustration. The identify change marked the beginning of a brand new chapter for the mom and daughter, who may transfer ahead with their lives.
Contemplating to Change of Title After Divorce?
Justice Household Attorneys might help you navigate the legalities of reverting to your maiden identify or selecting a brand new one.
Our skilled group can present steering and help throughout this transition, making the method easier and stress-free. Begin your new chapter with confidence. Contact Justice Household Attorneys in the present day.

Principal of Justice Household Attorneys, Hayder specialises in complicated parenting and property household legislation issues. He’s primarily based in Sydney and holds a Bachelor of Regulation and Bachelor of Communications from UTS.