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Difference between revisions of "How Do I Change My Name after Marriage or Divorce?"
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How Do I Change My Name after Marriage or Divorce? (view source)
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Issues about names mostly come up when a child is born, when people enter into new relationships and when they separate, and, after separation, sometimes when someone wants to change the name of a child. In a family law context, people usually change their names when they marry and when they divorce. The provincial ''[http://canlii.ca/t/8481 Name Act]'' also allows people to change their names just because they feel like it, without the necessity of a marriage or a divorce. | Issues about names mostly come up when a child is born, when people enter into new relationships and when they separate, and, after separation, sometimes when someone wants to change the name of a child. In a family law context, people usually change their names when they marry and when they divorce. The provincial ''[http://canlii.ca/t/8481 Name Act]'' also allows people to change their names just because they feel like it, without the necessity of a marriage or a divorce. | ||
This | This section will provide a brief introduction to this subject and discuss the naming of children, changes of name on marriage and divorce, and changes of name under the ''Name Act''. | ||
==Naming children== | ==Naming children== | ||
The provincial [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca Ministry of Health's Vital Statistics Agency] is the government organization that keeps track of peoples' births, their deaths, their wills and their names. Under s. 3(1) of the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84fk Vital Statistics Act]'', one or both of the parents must file a [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/forms/vsa404w_fill.pdf Registration of Live Birth] with the agency within | The provincial [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca Ministry of Health's Vital Statistics Agency] is the government organization that keeps track of peoples' births, their deaths, their wills and their names. Under s. 3(1) of the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84fk Vital Statistics Act]'', one or both of the parents must file a [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/forms/vsa404w_fill.pdf Registration of Live Birth] with the agency within 30 days of the birth of a child. This form must be completed before the child's birth certificate can be issued. | ||
The form must state, among other things: the name of the mother; the name of the father (if known and acknowledged); the gender of the child; the date of birth; and, the name given to the child. Under s. 4 of the act, the child's surname can be: | The form must state, among other things: the name of the mother; the name of the father (if known and acknowledged); the gender of the child; the date of birth; and, the name given to the child. Under s. 4 of the act, the child's surname can be: | ||
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A 2003 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, ''[http://canlii.ca/t/1g6ph Trociuk v. British Columbia]'', 2003 1 S.C.R. 835, held that fathers should have a say in their children's names, contrary to the provisions of the ''Vital Statistics Act'' in force at the time. This decision also affects the right of unacknowledged fathers to be listed on their children's birth certificates. On June 4, 2004, the act was amended to comply with the court's decision, and s. 4.1 now allows the courts of British Columbia to make an order changing a child's surname when it makes a declaration of paternity. | A 2003 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, ''[http://canlii.ca/t/1g6ph Trociuk v. British Columbia]'', 2003 1 S.C.R. 835, held that fathers should have a say in their children's names, contrary to the provisions of the ''Vital Statistics Act'' in force at the time. This decision also affects the right of unacknowledged fathers to be listed on their children's birth certificates. On June 4, 2004, the act was amended to comply with the court's decision, and s. 4.1 now allows the courts of British Columbia to make an order changing a child's surname when it makes a declaration of paternity. | ||
Now, while you're free to name your child as you wish, there are some limits. You've probably heard of Dweezel and Moon Unit Zappa, and probably know people named Sunshine and Starlight. Under s. 9 of the act, the agency's chief executive officer has the authority to refuse to register the birth — and consequently refuse to issue a birth certificate — for children whose names the chief executive officer believes: | Now, while you're free to name your child as you wish, there are some limits. You've probably heard of Dweezel and Moon Unit Zappa, and you probably know people named Sunshine and Starlight. Under s. 9 of the act, the agency's chief executive officer has the authority to refuse to register the birth — and consequently refuse to issue a birth certificate — for children whose names the chief executive officer believes: | ||
<blockquote><tt>(a) might reasonably be expected to cause</tt></blockquote> | <blockquote><tt>(a) might reasonably be expected to cause</tt></blockquote> | ||
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==Changing names== | ==Changing names== | ||
It is not illegal to use an alias in British Columbia although you will not be allowed to obtain government identification or to make certain legal transactions, like the transfer of property, using an alias. An ''alias'' is a name other than your legal, registered name. | It is not illegal to use an alias in British Columbia, although you will not be allowed to obtain government identification or to make certain legal transactions, like the transfer of property, using an alias. An ''alias'' is a name other than your legal, registered name. | ||
People often use aliases just because that's how people have come to know them, like a nickname, or because their real name is too hard for native English-speakers to pronounce or spell easily. Most people who want to legally change their names do so because they were adopted, married or divorced. Others do so for purely personal reasons. I remember reading a change of name notice for a fellow with the unfortunate name of Donald Duck. | People often use aliases just because that's how people have come to know them, like a nickname, or because their real name is too hard for native English-speakers to pronounce or spell easily. Most people who want to legally change their names do so because they were adopted, married or divorced. Others do so for purely personal reasons. I remember reading a change of name notice for a fellow with the unfortunate name of Donald Duck. | ||
You can apply to have a legal, registered name | You can apply to have a legal, registered name that differs from your birth or married name under the provincial ''Name Act''. This is a purely paper process and a hearing before a judge won't be necessary in most cases. Section 4 of the act sets out who may apply for a change of name: | ||
<blockquote><tt>(1) Subject to this section, a person who has attained the age of majority or, if the age of majority has not been attained, is a parent having custody of his or her child and who is domiciled in British Columbia for at least 3 months, or has resided in British Columbia for at least 3 months immediately before the date of the application, may, unless prohibited by this or another Act, change his or her name on complying with this Act.</tt></blockquote> | <blockquote><tt>(1) Subject to this section, a person who has attained the age of majority or, if the age of majority has not been attained, is a parent having custody of his or her child and who is domiciled in British Columbia for at least 3 months, or has resided in British Columbia for at least 3 months immediately before the date of the application, may, unless prohibited by this or another Act, change his or her name on complying with this Act.</tt></blockquote> | ||
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<blockquote><tt>(6) If, in the opinion of the director, exceptional circumstances make it unreasonable to seek the consent of a person as required under this Act, the applicant may, with the approval of the director, proceed with the application without the consent of that person.</tt></blockquote> | <blockquote><tt>(6) If, in the opinion of the director, exceptional circumstances make it unreasonable to seek the consent of a person as required under this Act, the applicant may, with the approval of the director, proceed with the application without the consent of that person.</tt></blockquote> | ||
When your name has been legally changed, the chief executive officer of the Ministry of Health Services' Vital Statistics Agency is required to make a notation on your birth certificate and on the registration of any current marriage. After the notation has been made, any future birth, marriage or death certificates will show the new name. A Certificate of Change of Name will be issued | When your name has been legally changed, the chief executive officer of the Ministry of Health Services' Vital Statistics Agency is required to make a notation on your birth certificate and on the registration of any current marriage. After the notation has been made, any future birth, marriage or death certificates will show the new name. A Certificate of Change of Name will be issued that will allow you to obtain new identification, such as drivers' licences or BC Identification cards, in the new name. | ||
===Change of name on marriage=== | ===Change of name on marriage=== | ||
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This applies to both men and women, and to same- and opposite-sex couples, and no court application is required; the newly-married spouse simply starts using that name. To get identification in the new name, you will have to produce proof of your marriage (the government-issued marriage certificate) and proof of your old name (a driver's licence or BC ID). | This applies to both men and women, and to same- and opposite-sex couples, and no court application is required; the newly-married spouse simply starts using that name. To get identification in the new name, you will have to produce proof of your marriage (the government-issued marriage certificate) and proof of your old name (a driver's licence or BC ID). | ||
The sort of marriage the act is referring to is a legal marriage solemnized by a marriage commissioner or | The sort of marriage the act is referring to is a legal marriage solemnized by a marriage commissioner or licensed religious official; the rules about change of name on marriage do not apply to common-law relationships. | ||
====Hyphenated names==== | ====Hyphenated names==== | ||
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====Orders for change of name==== | ====Orders for change of name==== | ||
Where a spouse needs a legal change of name, the spouse may seek an order to this effect in the divorce proceeding and simply claim the change of name as | Where a spouse needs a legal change of name, the spouse may seek an order to this effect in the divorce proceeding and simply claim the change of name as part of what he or she is asking for in the Notice of Family Claim or Counterclaim. | ||
An application for a change of name can also be dealt with in a separate proceeding altogether, usually by Petition and likely | An application for a change of name can also be dealt with in a separate proceeding altogether, usually by Petition and likely without an oral hearing. An application for a change of both given and last names may be dealt with by a hearing before a judge. | ||
====Children's names==== | ====Children's names==== | ||
An application for a change of name of the children of the marriage must be made with the consent of the other parent, even when the person making the application has custody of the children. The consent of the affected children must also be obtained where they are | An application for a change of name of the children of the marriage must be made with the consent of the other parent, even when the person making the application has custody of the children. The consent of the affected children must also be obtained where they are 12 or more years old. | ||
===Change of name under the ''Name Act''=== | ===Change of name under the ''Name Act''=== | ||
If you don't qualify for an automatic change of name, you will have to follow the process outlined in the ''Name Act'' to change your name. The [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/name/howto.html Ministry of Health Services' Vital Statistics Agency] has a [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/forms/vsa529.pdf change of name package] | If you don't qualify for an automatic change of name, you will have to follow the process outlined in the ''Name Act'' to change your name. The [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/name/howto.html Ministry of Health Services' Vital Statistics Agency] has a [http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/forms/vsa529.pdf change of name package] that includes all the forms you will require and instructions on how to complete them. Although you don't have to run an ad in the newspaper to change your name, you will have to get your fingerprints taken and submit to a criminal records check. As well, a fee will be charged by the police department that takes your fingerprints. | ||
The process is fairly straightforward and a hearing before a judge is usually not necessary. The steps for most people are as follows: | The process is fairly straightforward and a hearing before a judge is usually not necessary. The steps for most people are as follows: | ||
#get the change of name package from the Vital Statistics Agency, | #get the change of name package from the Vital Statistics Agency, | ||
#if you're seeking to also change the name of a child, you must obtain the consents of the other parent, the child (if the child is | #if you're seeking to also change the name of a child, you must obtain the consents of the other parent, the child (if the child is 12 or more years old), and your present spouse (if you are seeking to change the child's name to that of your spouse), | ||
#gather proof of identity, like birth certificates, for everyone affected by the change of name (usually, yourself and any children), | #gather proof of identity, like birth certificates, for everyone affected by the change of name (usually, yourself and any children), | ||
#go to your local police detachment and submit to fingerprinting (a fee | #go to your local police detachment and submit to fingerprinting (you have to pay a fee for this service), | ||
#the police will | #the police will send in all the required information — the identification, the consents, your fingerprints, and so forth — to the agency, along with payment of the agency's fee, and | ||
#once your name | #once your name change has been registered, the fingerprints will be returned to the police for a criminal records check. | ||
Once the agency receives all of this information with their fee, they will begin processing the request. (Bear in mind that the agency's chief executive officer has the authority to refuse to register objectionable names. This is discussed in | Once the agency receives all of this information with their fee, they will begin processing the request. (Bear in mind that the agency's chief executive officer has the authority to refuse to register objectionable names. This is discussed earlier in this section.) If all is well, the chief executive officer will make the required changes to the birth certificates of the people affected by the application and, if applicable, to any current marriage certificate, and will issue a Certitificate of Change of Name. | ||
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* <span style="color: red;">bulleted list of other pages in this chapter, linked</span> | * <span style="color: red;">bulleted list of other pages in this chapter, linked</span> | ||
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== | ==Resources and links== | ||
===Legislation=== | ===Legislation=== | ||
