Should I Change My Name After Marriage?
Should I Change My Name After Marriage?
It is one of those big, small questions that creeps up on you. You tick ‘married’ on a form. Then it asks, “New surname?” And suddenly you are deep in the emotional and logistical layers of identity, feminism, tradition, and paperwork.
For many women in WA (and their partners), the decision to change your surname is highly personal. It can bring up pride, hesitation, tradition, independence, or even trauma. It is not as simple as “just pick one.”
Let us break it down. The emotional, the practical, and what happens when it comes to changing your name after the wedding. Plus, since you are already in wedding admin mode, we will touch on how celebrants help with the paperwork that makes it all possible.
Reasons People Keep Their Name
You love your surname. Full stop.
You have built a professional reputation under it.
It connects you to your culture or heritage.
You want to keep your identity independent within marriage.
You are non-binary or same-sex partners and the name change feels unnecessary.
The admin looks like a full-time job (fair call).
Your partner’s surname just does not feel like yours.
Reasons People Change Their Name
You love the idea of having the same surname as your partner.
You want a shared family name for future children.
You are excited for a fresh start with a new name.
Your current surname is difficult to spell or pronounce.
You do not have strong ties to your surname and are happy to let it go.
You are reclaiming your identity through marriage.
What Happens Next: The Admin Checklist
If you do decide to change your name, brace yourself, it is not legally automatic in WA.
You will need an official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages (not the pretty one you sign on the day), plus some patience and a stack of paperwork.
Where you might need to update your name:
Driver’s licence and passport
Bank accounts and Medicare
Superannuation
ATO, Centrelink, and Electoral Roll
Health providers
Phone/internet bills
Your employer
Toll road accounts
Your will
Any kids’ school or medical info
Frequent flyer and loyalty programs
Email and socials (if you want)
Hot tip: get multiple certified copies of your marriage certificate from a Justice of the Peace. Some institutions require the original. Others will accept copies. Most will want evidence.
If you want help, companies like Easy Name Change can sort it for you. They handle the paperwork and forms for a fee, worth considering if you are time poor and ready to outsource.
So What Does Your Celebrant Have to Do With This?
Your celebrant is the one who lodges your marriage with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). That legal lodgement is what triggers the release of your official certificate. Without that, you cannot change your name; not legally, not on paper.
This is part of why celebrant pricing matters. We are not just standing at the front reading a few lines. We are:
Collecting and checking your ID
Helping you complete the Notice of Intended Marriage
Preparing legal paperwork in line with the Marriage Act
Lodging everything with BDM
Supporting couples through name changes, witness advice, and life admin questions
You are not just paying for the ceremony. You are paying for peace of mind, a paperwork expert, and someone who gets the big picture of love, law, and logistics.
Final Thoughts
Whether you keep your name, change it, hyphenate it, or invent something new; it is your choice.
There is no right or wrong. Just the path that feels most “you.”
And if you need a celebrant who is across the admin and the emotion of it all, I am your girl.
I have walked this journey myself. I know the steps. I will make sure your paperwork is perfect, your options are clear, and your ceremony feels like you; no matter what name you sign.
Need Help Navigating the Name Change Process?
I am here for the legal bits, the emotional moments, and the tiny admin questions that keep you up at night. Whether you are changing your name or not, let us make the paperwork easy.
📩 Enquire now at www.callthatcelebrant.com.
