Name Change Victoria
There are two parts to changing your name:
1. Making your name change legal.
2. Changing your name with organisations.
1. Making Your Name Change Legal in Victoria.
This is as simple as filling out an 'Application to Register a Change of Name' form, and paying the fee when submitting your application form.
The Victorian Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages manages the process for registering a change of name.
The form is fairly straight forward and you will be asked to answer questions such as:
- Have you ever been arrested, charged, on bail or convicted of a fraud
related offence? (Your answer to this questions may preclude you from being able to change your name).
- Are you a prisoner, on parole, a registered sex offender or subject to
an interim supervision order or a supervision order? (Your answer to this questions may preclude you from being able to change your name).
- Do you have any financial defaults? (Your answer to this questions may preclude you from being able to change your name if you cannot provide evidence that you have notified your creditors of your intention to change your name).
- Have you ever been declared bankrupt? (If yes, you may be required to get permission from the Australian Financial Services Authority to change your name).
- Why are you changing your name? (Your response needs to be a brief statement an not a one word answer. If you were married overseas and want to change your name after marriage for example, providing a copy of your overseas marriage certificate would be beneficial for your application).
- Have you previously changed your name? (You will need to provide evidence of your past name changes).
Forms and
information is available from the Victorian
Registry of
Births Deaths
and Marriages website or you can call them if you have
specific
questions. There are two exceptions to this process, where you may not
need to register a change of name. This is for name changes due to marriage, or divorce.
2. Changing Your Name With Organisations in Victoria and Nationally
This involves contacting everyone who has your name noted somewhere, and advising them of your new name.
This is a mammoth task and includes getting a new drivers licence, passport, changing your name on your tax records, electoral enrolment, bank accounts and the list goes on, and on. (See our FAQ page for more information and name change tips.
You might also consider buying a name change kit that will help you change your name.
