Whether it is taking on your partner’s last name or wanting to legalise your nickname, below are the implications of changing your name.
Documentation
Changing your name means that you must update your personal records with multiple organisations including but not limited to:
· Australian Passport Office
· Transport for NSW
· banks
· Australian Taxation Office
· Australian Electoral Commission
· NSW Electoral commission
· Medicare
· insurance companies
· doctors/dentists
· superannuation funds.
Change of Name Certificate
If you are planning on changing your name, this one document will become forever useful. In order for the above listed organisations to approve your new documentation, a change of name certificate, or equivalent, will most likely be required.
Changing your name after marriage? – its free!
Changing multiple important documentation gets expensive. Luckily, for marriage related surname changes, it's not necessary to pay the fee for an official change of name. Most government departments accept your official marriage certificate as proof of your name.
Your surname options include the following:
· you can take your partner’s surname
· your partner can take your surname
· you can combine your name and your partner’s name with a hyphen.
Overall, changing your name has serious legal implications and all respective organisations need to be well informed to ensure that your personal identity is standardised and updated.