Name change in Quebec

Arturabeth · May 2012

Hi ladies!
I live in Quebec and I want to change my family name to that of my future husband's. But I have a problem, in Quebec they don't let you do that. I'm planning on doing anything I can to make it happen, and I was wondering if anyone has tried to do this and suceeded.

ElleB87 · May 2012

Quebec does not recognize married names so no, it's not possible. Period. You can't get around that unless you move to another province or territory. You can always go by your husbands name socially. However, your passport, license, SIN card, diplomas, etc will remain in your maiden name.

unchatenfrance · May 2012

I did not know about this - you can't even "asume" your husband' name (have it on all your documents, just not change your birth certificate?)

Avion22 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_name-change-in-quebec?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:07495343-faca-40c4-9dfa-570984c060f5Post:b63c66da-8dac-462a-9c23-2e32917fe14d">Re: Name change in Quebec</a>:
[QUOTE]I did not know about this - you can't even "asume" your husband' name (have it on all your documents, just not change your birth certificate?)
Posted by unchatenfrance[/QUOTE]

<div>Uh, I don't think you can EVER change the name on your birth certificate. Your birth certificate is your birth certificate for life. Any subsequent name changes are accompanied by marriage license/certificate or court order, which you present as proof that your name was legally changed since birth. Except in Quebec apparently you can't change your name due to marriage.</div><div>
</div><div>OP, could you try to obtain a court order to change your name? Does Quebec do that? </div>

unchatenfrance · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_name-change-in-quebec?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:07495343-faca-40c4-9dfa-570984c060f5Post:7d907321-f3c3-428b-9bf4-d88413525f66">Re: Name change in Quebec</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name change in Quebec : Uh, I don't think you can EVER change the name on your birth certificate. Your birth certificate is your birth certificate for life. Any subsequent name changes are accompanied by marriage license/certificate or court order, which you present as proof that your name was legally changed since birth. Except in Quebec apparently you can't change your name due to marriage. OP, could you try to obtain a court order to change your name? Does Quebec do that?
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]

<div>Uh, actually in Ontario you can change your name on your birth certificate to have both your maiden name and married name appear on it. Then if you get divorced you can have your birth certificate changed back. All of this costs money, obviously, but assuming your husband's name is free.</div>

bonge · May 2012

Wow, i knew quebec laws were out there but this one is just silly to me. It seems you are stuck op.

Avion22 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_name-change-in-quebec?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:07495343-faca-40c4-9dfa-570984c060f5Post:9099da05-4e0e-4258-8f4d-6754fe0f3902">Re: Name change in Quebec</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name change in Quebec : Uh, actually in Ontario you can change your name on your birth certificate to have both your maiden name and married name appear on it. Then if you get divorced you can have your birth certificate changed back. All of this costs money, obviously, but assuming your husband's name is free.
Posted by unchatenfrance[/QUOTE]

<div>Huh. Interesting. I stand corrected :-) Thanks.</div>

ElleB87 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_name-change-in-quebec?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:07495343-faca-40c4-9dfa-570984c060f5Post:7d907321-f3c3-428b-9bf4-d88413525f66">Re: Name change in Quebec</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name change in Quebec : Uh, I don't think you can EVER change the name on your birth certificate. Your birth certificate is your birth certificate for life. Any subsequent name changes are accompanied by marriage license/certificate or court order, which you present as proof that your name was legally changed since birth. Except in Quebec apparently you can't change your name due to marriage. OP, could you try to obtain a court order to change your name? Does Quebec do that?
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]

It's called a legal name change. You just go to Vital Statistics (who issues all birth, marriage and death certificates) and file a legal change of name request. Then, you get your legal name change certificate and your new birth certificate in the mail. But a legal name change is totally seperate from changing your name due to marriage.

laurenoliveira23 · May 2012

i never knew quebec didnt recognize that :O

my mom went to assume my dads name (in ontario) and they ended up changing it on her bc ! she was kind of mad lol dont know how that happened

and ya maybe just do a legal name change as oppose to changing it because of marriage

my fiance is legally changing his last name to his dads right now its kind of a lot of rigmarole but oh well

zigspective · May 2012

[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name change in Quebec : Uh, I don't think you can EVER change the name on your birth certificate. Your birth certificate is your birth certificate for life.
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]

<div>Sorry but it's actually quite common to change your name on a birth certificate and if you have to go to court to change it that is probably what you are doing. My partner is from New York and the only way he could get a different legal name was to petition the court to change his birth certificate.</div><div>
</div><div>Generally a marriage contract lets you "assume" a name. You can use it legally but you still have the original on the birth certificate.</div><div>
</div><div>Quebec has no process to assume a name, however, at the same time they don't let you change your birth certificate unless you have a really good reason and marriage generally doesn't cut it. As far as the province is concerned the name you were given when you were born stays your legal name until your death, the only proper way to do it is to just use your spouse's name socially.</div><div>
</div><div>That said, you can try to be sneaky about it because other provinces will accept your Quebec marriage license as proof of name change, and once you get back to Quebec they just have to accept that's what your bank/credit card/driver's license says you are now.</div>

Arturabeth · May 2012

Thanks ladies! I will try my best to get it changed legally. When I was looking into it before one of the reasons you can change your name is if that is the name you have been known by for 5 years or more. So I might just try that. Go by my husbands name socially for 5 years and then try changing it. My mother in law came to Canada while still married to my fiance's father. When the divorce was complete she tried to change her name back to her maiden name. Then she remarried and is know socially by her new husbands name. But legaly she is known by all 3. It's very confusing! But I make things simple and just call her Mama!

Name change in Quebec

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