Choosing a surname after marriage or entry into a common-law relationship
As a married person or a person registered in a common-law relationship, you have a number of options for choosing your surname.
- You may retain your present surname;
- You may assume your spouse's surname or common-law partner's surname;
- You may combine your present surname with your spouse's or common-law partner's surname, with or without a hyphen (it does not matter which surname you use first); or
- You may assume your spouse's or common-law partner's surname and retain your present surname as a given, middle name.
If you are in a common-law relationship registered with Vital Statistics or were married outside of Canada, it may be necessary to file a declaration with Vital Statistics in order to change your surname. You will be charged a fee to obtain a Certificate of Election of Surname that will provide proof of your new name.
If you were born in Manitoba, your birth certificate does not change to your married name or common-law partner's name. Therefore a legal change of name application does not need to be submitted. You can take your marriage/election of surname certificate to any organizations that you have ID with to assume your married name. You do not need to submit any documents to our office.
