A Simple Guide To Legally Changing Your Name In Western Australia

how to change name in australia wa

Changing your name in Western Australia (WA) involves a few different processes. If you were born in Western Australia, your original name will remain on your birth certificate, and your new name will be added as a notation. If you were born overseas, you must provide documentary evidence of your citizenship or permanent resident status. You will also need to complete an application form, attach supporting documents, and pay a fee, although this may be waived under certain circumstances.

Characteristics Values
Who can apply Parents or guardians of children under 18 years of age
Adults (18 and over)
Requirements Three forms of identity documents for all applicants
Evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residency for children born outside Australia
Evidence of sole parental responsibility
Evidence of death of one parent
Evidence of residency in Western Australia for the last 12 months
Evidence of name change due to safety concerns, severe family violence, etc.
Previous change of name certificate from another state or territory
Marriage certificate or court order showing name change
Application Process Fill out the change of name application form (BDM401 for children under 18)
Attach supporting documents and pay the required fee
Apply for a fee waiver or reduction if eligible
Submit the application to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in WA
Update relevant documents, e.g., birth certificate, passport, etc.
Restrictions Cannot change name more than once in a 12-month period
Cannot change the name on a registered life event that occurred before the name change

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Requirements for children's name changes

In Western Australia, the parents or legal guardians of a child under 18 years of age can apply to change their child's name. If the child was born in Western Australia or their birth is registered there, the application can be made to the Western Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If the child was born overseas, parents can still apply to the Western Australian Registry if: the child is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the child's birth has not been registered in another Australian state or territory, and the child (or, if the child is under 12 months old, at least one parent) has lived continuously in Western Australia for 12 months before applying for the name change.

If the child's birth was registered in another state or territory, parents will need to make an application to change the child's name in that state or territory. Additionally, the child must not have had a registered name change in Western Australia or another state or territory within the previous 12 months.

If both parents are named on the child's birth registration, they must both agree to the name change. In the case of disagreement, a parent can ask for permission from the Family Court of Western Australia, which will decide whether the proposed name change is in the child's best interests. If one parent is deceased, the surviving parent must provide evidence of the other parent's death when applying for a name change.

All applications to register a change of name for a child require three forms of identity documents for all applicants. If the child was born outside of Australia, the applicants must also provide evidence of the child's citizenship or permanent resident status. The application form for a child under 18 years of age is the BDM401 Register a Change of Name. A fee is payable for this service, although it may be waived in certain circumstances, such as severe family violence.

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How to change your name after marriage

If you were married in Western Australia, you can obtain a copy of your marriage certificate from Births Deaths Marriages in WA for $50. You can download the form from https://bdm.justice.wa.gov.au/ or apply in person.

If you were married overseas, you may have to register a formal change of name with the Registry before your married surname is accepted by some organisations. You will need to provide a copy of your official marriage certificate to the relevant authority as evidence of your new surname.

If you were born in Western Australia, your original name will remain on your birth certificate, and your new name will be added as a notation. You can apply to the Registry for that name to be added to your birth record. No fee is charged for this process, but you will need to pay a fee for a copy of your birth certificate.

To apply to register a change of name, you need to complete an Application to Register a Change of Name (Adult) form, pay the relevant fee, and provide supporting documents. You might be able to apply to have the fee waived or reduced. You will need to provide an updated birth certificate that has your new name, a citizenship certificate, or a change-of-name certificate to the agency that looks after the relevant document or record that you want to change.

You can also change the family name of your children at the same time. All parents named in the child's birth registration can apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in WA to register a change of name for the child if the child was born in WA or their birth is registered in WA.

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Changing names on passports

To change the name on your passport in Western Australia, you must first legally change your name. This can be done by applying to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Western Australia (WA). If you were born in WA, or your birth is registered there, you can apply to the WA Registry. If not, you must apply to the Registry in the relevant state or territory.

If you were born overseas, you must provide a minimum of two separate forms of documentary evidence to show that you have been living continuously in WA for 12 months prior to the date of your application. You will also need to provide evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent resident status.

Once you have legally changed your name, you can apply to change the name on your passport. You will need to show documents that prove your citizenship and identity, including documents that link your new name to your old name. This could include an updated birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or change-of-name certificate. If you have changed your name more than once, you will need to document all name changes that directly link your current name to the name on your birth or citizenship certificate.

If you have changed your name due to a change in marital status, you can either get a new passport or continue using your current passport. However, if you have changed your name for other reasons, you should stop using your current passport. It is important to note that you cannot have different Australian passports in different names. If you have multiple passports, you must change the name on all of them at the same time.

To obtain a free replacement passport, you must prove that your name change was related to a change in marital status. This could include providing evidence of the death of your spouse or partner, such as a death certificate or coroner's report.

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Application forms and fees

To change your name in Western Australia (WA), you need to complete an application form and pay the associated fees. Here is a detailed guide on the application forms and fees required for changing your name in WA.

Application Forms:

The application form you need to complete depends on your age and the reason for your name change.

Standard Change of Name: If you are over 18 years old and wish to change your name, you need to complete the 'Application by an Adult for Change of Name' form. This form allows you to change your first name, middle name, and/or surname. You can

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Name changes for adults born overseas

To change your name in Western Australia (WA), you must apply to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in WA. If you were born overseas, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and have lived continuously in WA for 12 months immediately prior to the date of application.

You will need to complete an 'Application to Register a Change of Name (Adult)' form, pay the required fee, and provide supporting documents. The fee may be waived in some circumstances, such as in cases of severe family violence. The Western Australian Government provides the Change of Name Application form online.

All applications to register a name change require three forms of identity documents. If you were born outside Australia, you will also need to provide evidence of your citizenship or permanent resident status.

If you were born in Western Australia and have previously changed your name via Deed Poll or a prior Registry Change of Name License, you can have this recorded on your birth registration using the BDM104 Application to Record a Previously Registered Change of Name in a Birth Registration form. If the change was registered in another state or territory, a certified copy of the change of name certificate must be submitted with your application.

If you are changing your name after marriage, you will be given a certificate as evidence of your new name, but it will not be recorded on your marriage certificate.

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