COVID-19 - Change to Service The Province of Manitoba is taking proactive measures to help manage and minimize the spread of COVID-19, including social-distancing measures. Unscheduled drop-in services at the Vital Statistics Branch are not available at this time. Please contact us for assistance, or to schedule an appointment. We are pleased to support you by phone at 204-945-3701 (in Winnipeg), 1-866-949-9296 (toll free) or email vitalstats@gov.mb.ca. Certificates can be ordered online anytime here https://cambafsclient.gov.mb.ca/cambAFSClient/entry.m. For accurate, up-to-date and fact-based information on COVID-19, please visit manitoba.ca/covid19

Choosing a surname after marriage or entry into a common-law relationship

As a married person or a person living 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.

All options apply equally to men and women.

If you were born in Manitoba, your birth certificate does not change to your married name or common-law partner's name.

If you are living common-law, it will 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.