Changing your child's first names within a year of birth

You can change your child’s first names with us once before their first birthday if they were born or adopted in Queensland.

You will need to use a different application form if you want to change their:

• first names after they have turned 1
• family name
• first and/or family name(s) if their birth or adoption is registered overseas but your child has lived in Queensland for at least the last 12 months (or more).

If your child was born in another Australian state or territory, you need to apply to the interstate registering authority.

If your application is approved, you will need to change your child's name everywhere they are registered in the community.

Certificate  options

The application fee does not include a certificate—you can choose to order a birth certificate (with or without sex shown) or both.

Documents you will need to provide

You must provide:

• certified proof of ID for both parents (read the rules below if you are a single parent or have legal parental responsibility)
• evidence explaining why if your name or the child’s current name is different to the name on their birth certificate, such as
  • marriage certificate
  • family deed poll document
  • change of name document.

Your application will not be approved if:

• you have not provided enough documentation to establish your identity
• the change of name appears to be for a fraudulent or other improper purpose
• the name you’ve chosen is a prohibited name.

Detailed rules and requirements are outlined in our change of name and prohibited name policies.

If only one of the parents shown on your child's birth certificate is applying, you will need additional evidence to support this, such as a court order or death certificate.

Rules for changing your child’s first names

To change your child’s first names before their first birthday, you must:

• not have changed their first names before
• have consent from the authorised  parents or person(s)
• choose a new name that is not a prohibited name
• give a detailed reason for your child's name change.

Who can apply

If both parents are shown on a child's birth certificate, we need both parents' consent to change the child’s name.

If you are a single parent, you can apply to change your child’s name if one of the following applies:

• you are the child’s parent and there are no details for your child’s other parent on the birth certificate
• you have a Queensland Magistrates Court order that specifies the child's name on their birth certificate and the proposed new name
• one parent is deceased—a death certificate will be required (if outside of Queensland)
• you have sole parental responsibility under a Family Law  order.

If you have a legal parental responsibility for the child (i.e. under a Family Law order, a Child Protection order or a will), you can apply to change the child’s name but you must provide evidence.

Read more about the evidence you will need to have.

Otherwise you can only apply if you have a Queensland Magistrates Court order approving the change of name.

How to apply

To apply to change your child’s first names, you need to:

1. Read and understand the rules above.
2. Complete, download and print the change a child's first names application form.
3. Attach certified proof of ID for both parents and the correct certified supporting documents, as required.
4. Have another adult (18 or older) witness your signature(s) on the declaration section of the application form.
5. Pay the fee.
6. Submit your signed application form, supporting documents and payment to us by post or in person.

Fill in the change your child's first names application form

Contact us

Online: our general enquiry form.

By phone: local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or international +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC)—phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm.

*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.