Post your completed application form with your certified documents and payment to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
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 resided in Queensland for the past 12 months.
If your child was born or adopted in Australia but outside of Queensland, 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 within the community.
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 a legal guardian)
- 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.
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 parents shown on your child’s birth certificate
- choose a new name that is not a prohibited name.
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 mother and there are no details for your child’s father 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).
If you are a legal guardian (i.e. you have been appointed under the law of a state or the Australian Government), you can apply to change the child’s name if you have both:
- evidence of legal guardianship issued by a court
- a Queensland Magistrates Court order that specifies the child's name on their birth certificate and the proposed new name.
Contact your nearest Queensland Magistrates Court for more information on getting an order.
How to apply
To apply to change your child’s first names, you need to:
- Read and understand the rules above.
- Complete, download and print the change a child's first names application form.
- Attach certified proof of ID for both parents and the correct certified supporting documents, as required.
- Have another adult (18 or older) witness your signature(s) on the declaration section of the application form.
- Pay the fee.
- 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
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Visiting the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane and bring your completed application form, original proof of ID and supporting documents.
Pay the fee
You will need to work out the total cost of your order and make sure you pay the correct amount. You can pay:
- at the customer service centre
- by EFTPOS or credit card
- with a business account cheque
- with a bank cheque
- with a money order
- through the mail
- within Australia
- by credit card
- with a business account cheque
- with a bank cheque
- with a money order
- from overseas
- by credit card.
We will accept cash at the customer service centre but prefer contactless payments such as EFTPOS or credit card.
We do not accept personal cheques or cheques issued from outside Australia (in any currency).
Make Australian-drawn cheques and money orders payable to 'Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.
Application fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Change your child’s first names before they turn 1 | $24.50 |
| Official birth certificate (standard postage included) | $54.40 |
| Commemorative birth certificate package (1 official birth certificate and standard postage included) | $70.70 |
Postage fees
Standard postage is included in the price when you order a certificate to be sent by mail.
You can choose to have your certificate sent by express or registered post for a fee.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Express post | $7.45 |
| Registered post | $5.55 |
| International registered mail | $17.70 |
We value identity protection, so we recommend that you choose registered post to ensure the delivery of your certificate can be tracked and delivered to you more securely within Australia.
International registered mail is used for overseas deliveries. However, this can’t be tracked and signing on delivery is only available in some countries.
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.
Please read our refund policy.
Contact us
Online: our general enquiry form.
By phone: local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
International +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC)
(Phone lines are open Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm)
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.
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If you can't complete the application form online, you can use the PDF application form and apply by post.
Get the changing your child's first names within a year of birth application form.