Klara asks:
I have a couple where one of them wants to change their first name (well, actually drop their first name and take on their middle name) and wondering if this can be done using the marriage certificate or if they’ll need to apply separately to BDM for this bit?
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Klara asks:
I have a couple where one of them wants to change their first name (well, actually drop their first name and take on their middle name) and wondering if this can be done using the marriage certificate or if they’ll need to apply separately to BDM for this bit?
This is a pretty quick answer: they definitely need to change their first name through BDM 🙂 Only surnames can be changed by usage by using a marriage certificate, and the only change can be to add a spouse’s name (either hyphenated or not) or take it on in place of a current surname. Any other changes to names need to be through a formal change of name process through BDM in the state in which the party was born.
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