Legal name change

If you were recently married in Ontario and decide to take your spouse’s last name, you have two options, one of which is to legally change it. To do this you need to complete the “election to change surname” form, which you can have mailed to you by phoning the Registrar General at 1-800-461-2156.

To legally change your name means that your Ontario birth certificate will show your new name as well as your previous last name.

There’s no fee for this if you legally change your name within 90 days of getting married. If it’s after 90 days, it costs $25. You need the marriage certificate in order to do this.

For more information about the legalities involved with wedding ceremonies check out our other blog posts.