The name change process in Queensland is managed by the
Queensland Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
If you want to change your name you will need apply to register a
change of name. Forms and
information is available from the Queensland Registry of
Births Deaths
and Marriages website or you can call them if you have specific
questions.
There is also a fee involved and this is paid when submitting your forms.
Once your name change has been registered you will be sent a name
change certificate and your name change may also be documented on your
birth certificate. There are fees involved for getting a copy of your
birth certificate or a replacement name change certificate if you
misplace the original.
You do not need to go through the official name change process if you are changing your name because of marriage or divorce (or separation) and your name is changing either to your husband's name, or back to your maiden name. Infact, you can change between your maiden name and married name as you wish. It is recommended that you keep your name consistent however, particularly on your identity documents. The only documentation you need for this is a copy of your registered marriage certificate which is available from the Queensland Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
To go back to the name you had before you got married, you simply go through the process in reverse. For example, if you changed your name to your husband's name using a marriage certificate, you just use the same marriage certificate to go back to using your maiden name. Some organisations may request documentation that is evidence of your divorce, but this is not a legal requirement and you can change your name without it. If you legally changed your name using a the name change process throug the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages, then you will need to go through the same name change process to change your name back again if your name was changed on your birth certificate as a result of the initial change.
Name change kits are often used to help people go through the name change process. Name
change kids will outline the process you need to go through, provide
you with the forms, and then help you with the hardest bit of your name
change - notifying organisations of your new name and getting through
the red tape that is often encountered.
