Eligibility for change of name for a child

Check to see if you are eligible to apply to register a change of name for a child under 18 years.

The fee you pay is for you to submit your application and for us to review it. You will lose the fee paid if we refuse your application or you cancel it after we have started to review it.

If your application is incomplete or you are not eligible it may be refused or rejected, and the fee will not be refunded.

Please read our refund policy.

Your relationship to the child

I’m their parent

Two registered parents (must apply together).

If you are a single parent, you can apply to change your child’s name if:

• only 1 parent is shown on the child’s birth certificate—you need to provide
  • child’s birth certificate (if born outside Queensland) showing only you as a registered parent
• one registered parent has passed away—the other parent needs to provide
  • child’s birth certificate (if born outside Queensland)

and

• death certificate of the parent who passed away (if registered outside of Queensland).

I have legal parental responsibility

Anyone given parental responsibility needs to provide:

• child’s birth certificate (if born outside Queensland)

and

• Family Law Act order showing who has parental responsibility.

One person has parental responsibility has passed away. The other person will also need to provide:

• death certificate of the other person with parental responsibility (if registered outside of Queensland).

The Family Law Act order must let you make decisions about either or both:

• major long-term matters that affect the child
• the child’s name.

An overseas order giving parental responsibility cannot be accepted unless it is registered in Australia under the Family Law Regulations 1984, regulation 23.

I have a Queensland Magistrates Court order

Anyone given approval needs to provide:

• child’s birth certificate (if born outside Queensland)

and

• the Queensland Magistrates Court order approving the name change.

I am a guardian named in a will

Anyone given guardianship in a will needs to provide:

• child’s birth certificate (if born outside Queensland)
• the will of the parent who most recently passed away and appointed the guardian(s)

and

• death certificate(s) for the child’s parent(s).

I have a Child Protection order

Anyone given guardianship under a child protection order needs to provide:

• child’s birth certificate (if born outside Queensland)

and

• Child Protection order giving you parental responsibility.

One person named in the order has passed away. The other person will also need to provide:

• death certificate of the other person with parental responsibility (if registered outside of Queensland).

The only Child Protection orders we can accept are:

• an order granting short-term guardianship
• a long-term guardianship order
• a permanent care order
• an order equivalent to the above issued under child welfare law in another Australian state.