Change Your Name After Marriage in the Northern Territory

Find clear steps for changing your surname after marriage, including when you need the official NT marriage certificate.

After getting married in Australia, you have several options regarding your name:

  • keep your current surname
  • take your spouse’s surname
  • hyphenate both surnames
  • use your married surname for some purposes and your birth surname for others

There is no legal requirement to change your name after marriage.

Using Your Marriage Certificate

If you were married in the Northern Territory, you will usually need the official marriage certificate, not the ceremonial certificate given on the day.

The NT Government says:

  • when an organisation asks for your marriage certificate, you must use the official marriage certificate under seal
  • the certificate of marriage from your celebrant on the day is not the official certificate for this purpose

Official NT guidance:

Organisations to Notify

If changing your surname, common places to update include:

  • Australian Passport Office
  • Motor Vehicle Registry
  • electoral roll
  • your bank
  • Medicare
  • employers and insurers

Each organisation may have different evidence requirements.

If You Want a Different Name Combination

If you want something other than simply taking your spouse’s surname, you may need a formal change of name process rather than relying only on the marriage certificate.

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