We are married and we have our official certificate – what do we do next?
Congratulations – your certificate has arrived via registered post ( IN NSW) and all is correct. You may now pop on down to service NSW and start to deal with your name changes!
If your marriage certificate has errors – please immediately contact your celebrant who can assist you in completing the correction form. Its so much easier and faster if you pop to Service NSW and lodge this yourself – as 90% of the time – if your celebrant has ordered it for you to be delivered to you – YOU in person and YOUR ID are required to start the amendment process. Please don’t blame your celebrant loudly on social media – mistakes happen. Your celebrant is usually quite thorough and its why they have sent you copies of what they are uploading into the state systems for you to proof and approve before they hit send. Sometimes errors occur – yes they are an AWFUL pain – but it can be fixed.
PART 1: Changing your Name.
This is as simple as popping into your nearest Service NSW and starting the process. Start with your drivers licence first. Your names on the certificate should match your current drivers licence.
You can update your Drivers Licence or ID Card at any Service NSW Centre – along with your medicare card. This is a free service – your digital credentials will be updated immediately – but if you wish to have a new plastic card issued they will charge you for this.
Once your drivers licence and medicare card are updated ( remember you require your State Registered Marriage Certificate, Your Original Drivers Licence and Your Original Medicare card) You now have your new ID to start updating your other services.
Check off :
√ Bills and Utilities
√ Bank Accounts
√ Passport
You get the idea. These are all FREE as long as you do them within 12 months of your marriage registration. Sometimes Passports can be left until its due to renew them ( but if you’ve still got 4.5 years left – go ahead and change that baby!
PART 2: What can I change my name to?
You can change your name to your partners Sir name – your partner can take yours, OR you can combine and hyphenate the two names.
WHAT YOU CAN”T DO – is change your name entirely – this is a WHOLE different process and involves the reissue of birth certificates and costs money. So if you want to change your name completely it’s a whole new ball game that your celebrant and your marriage have nothing to do with.
PART 3:
Can I apply for an additional or commemorative marriage certificate?
Yes indeed you can – but be aware that it will cost you. If you have had a wonderful celebrant who has applied for a certificate for you – then they have included the costs in their fee.
The current cost for a Marriage Certificate in Australia is $67 plus $11 postage – its an extra $44 plus $11 postage for a commemorative one. They are usually issued withing 6 – 7 weeks of your application.
If you think ahead of time and want this you can pay your celebrant a little extra and they can order it for you as a package – general guide is 10 – 21 working days ( but sometimes
PART 4:
Im going on my honeymoon and I want to travel in my married name – but we are leaving right after the wedding… What do I do?
Well here you are legally married – but your name hasn’t yet been changed. So feel free to assume your new last name and carry a copy of your commemorative certificate your celebrant gives you on the day to prove in other countries that you are indeed married.
Some countries wont allow you to be in the same room unless you are married – so this little yellow piece of paper might get you out of some scrapes. Its not a State legal document – but it is a FEDERAL document and is great to prove that you are married legally. BUT CAN NOT BE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION purposes.
PART 5: Enjoy your married life – have a wonderful honeymoon and don’t forget to tag your celebrant in photos – they’ve been with you every step of the way and believe it or not have formed an attachment to you and they appreciate a few photos for their memories.
Xoxoxo Lyndal
