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Changing Your Name After Marriage – British Columbia

Changing Your Name After Marriage in BC: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, you’re married—woohoo! 🎉 You survived wedding planning, but now comes another challenge: changing your last name. If you thought picking a timeline or guest list was tricky, just wait until you start navigating the paperwork!

When our team member and lead photographer, Katey, got married, there were barely any resources available on how to change your name in BC. No step-by-step checklists, no reminders—just a lot of confusion.

To make things easier for you, we’ve put together everything you need to know about changing your name after marriage in BC, including a handy checklist. Whether you’re taking your partner’s last name, hyphenating, or making another change, this guide will help you get it done smoothly.

Let’s dive in!

Documents to Update First

Start with the essentials:

B.C. Driver’s License
B.C. Services Card
Canadian Passport
Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Other Important Accounts & Policies

Once your government ID is updated, move on to these:

🔹 Car Insurance (if not through ICBC)
🔹 Bank Accounts
🔹 Credit Cards
🔹 Life Insurance
🔹 Workplace Records
🔹 Extended Health Benefits
🔹 Mortgage & Home Insurance

Don’t Forget These!

📌 Optometrist & Family Doctor
📌 Gym Membership
📌 Costco Membership
📌 PayPal & Amazon Accounts
📌 Streaming & Other Subscriptions
📌 Cell Phone Provider

Where to Start?

The first step is to head to your local DMV/ICBC office to update your B.C. Driver’s License and Services Card. You’ll need your official marriage certificate for this. Once that’s done, everything else becomes much easier!

🚨 Important Tip: Many places, especially banks, will NOT accept a photocopy or digital image of your updated ID—you’ll need the real thing.

Click Here for a Printable Checklist!

Got questions about the process? Drop them in the comments! 😊

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