Planning a wedding is never an easy task. There are so many things to think about: the venue, the date, the outfits, the invitations, a witnesses and the choosing bridesmaids, the wedding menu and the list goes on. These tasks clearly all need to be sorted out before the wedding. However, there are also some things that you can only sort out partly later, after the wedding. One such thing is changing your name after marriage.
The choice of surname after marriage – that is, how a couple will use their surnames after the wedding – is a very important matter. This, incidentally, must be decided and declared before the wedding.
You can change the way you use your name later on, even after marriage, but the administrative procedures involved are never straightforward, so it is worth thinking carefully about what that name should be well in advance.
In this article, we look at the issue of changing your name after marriage. In this article, you will find out what options are available to you if you wish to take your spouse’s surname in some form. We also explain when, where and how you can go about doing this.
How many different ways are there to change your name?
There are several ways to change one’s name after marriage, and contrary to popular belief, it is not only women who can take their husband’s surname; husbands also have the right to take their wife’s surname.
Both the husband and the wife may take each other’s surname, albeit in different forms.
Options for changing one’s surname after marriage
This question is not like, for example, a wearing a wedding ring or a plain ring, it has not been shaped by traditions and customary practices; one cannot deviate from it, and any deviation is only permitted in the ways laid down by law.
The use of a surname after marriage Act V of 2013 on the Civil Code regulates.
Let’s take a look at the different ways of adopting a married name, and what options are available to husbands and wives.
Options for changing one’s name for women
1. Everything stays the same
If you do not intend to take your husband’s surname, then you clearly do not need to worry about changing your name; you will continue to use your maiden name.
For example: Anna Seres.
2. You take your husband’s full name
If you decide that’s what you want, you can take your husband’s full name. Your name will then change completely; it will be the same as his, except that ends with the suffix „né”.
For example: Mrs Tibor Baranyai
3. You take your husband’s surname, whilst retaining your own
You can take your husband’s surname whilst keeping your own. In that case, your name will look like this: your husband’s name + the suffix ”-né” + your maiden name. This can lead to some lovely long names. 🙂
For example: Anna Seres, wife of Tibor Baranyai
4.You take your husband’s surname, whilst retaining your own
You also have the option of taking only your husband’s surname and adding your maiden name to it. It will look like this: your husband’s surname + the suffix ”-né” + your maiden name
For example: Anna Seres, née Baranyai
5. You take your husband’s surname
Recommended for those who prefer shorter names. If you opt for this version, you will take your husband’s surname – this time without the „né” suffix – and your first name will be added to it.
For example: Anna Baranyai
Name-change options for men
As we mentioned in the first paragraph, men have different options when it comes to changing their surname after marriage. What are these options, and how can a man choose to use his surname after getting married?
1. There will be no change
In most cases, the man does not change his name.
For example: You’re staying, Tibor Baranyai
2. You take your wife’s maiden name
It is also possible for you to take your wife’s maiden name, so your wife’s surname switch it on your first name.
For example: Tibor Seres
Options for changing a band’s name
Men and women have different options when it comes to changing their surname after marriage. These have been outlined above.
As well as the different options available to women and men, there is also a form of name change that is available to both.
Combine your surnames
It is also possible for the spouses to combine their surnames, which they will then both use.
For example: BAnna Baranyai-Seres and Tibor Baranyai-Seres / Anna Seres-Baranyai and Tibor Seres-Baranyai
The rule is that combined married names may consist of no more than two parts, so you cannot, for example, be Anna Baranyai-Nagy-Seres; in other words, if your name already consists of two parts, you cannot add your partner’s surname to it, and in this case, they cannot add yours either.
What might your future children’s surname be?
There is more than one way to form a child’s surname. Let’s take a look at the different options for naming little ones.
1. The child bears the surname of either the mother or the father
In most cases, children take their father’s surname, but this is not the only option.
If we stick with the names we’ve used so far, a boy’s name could be, for example: Márton Baranyai and Márton Seres as well.
2. Has a compound name
If the parents have combined their surnames, the child’s surname cannot be anything other than this combined surname.
For example: Márton Baranyai-Seres
3. It can bear both their names
If the parents have not changed their surnames, it is possible to name the child after both of their surnames.
In this case, the names are not hyphenated, so there is no need to put a hyphen between them.
For example: Márton Seres from Baranya
When naming children, one must also bear in mind the rule that a name must not be longer than two syllables.
How does a name change following marriage work?
The previous section has shown the various ways in which a person’s surname can be changed following marriage. We will now look at how this can actually be done.
Changing one’s surname is a happy occasion in a couple’s life. Taking the husband’s or wife’s surname, or adopting a combined surname, often strengthens the sense of togetherness even further. Of course, even if both partners keep their own surnames, they can still be just as happy and committed to their partner; this is always a personal decision that must be respected.
If you and your partner decide that you want to take your partner’s surname in some form, you’re in for a lengthy administrative process. Unfortunately, you’ll have to go through this and sort it out if you want to use the name you’ve chosen.
What is the procedure?
Let’s go through it step by step to see what you need to do, where and how.
1. You must inform the registrar of your intention before the wedding
If you change your mind and would like to use your name in a different way before the wedding, you can still do so free of charge.
It is possible to change your name after the wedding, but in this case a fee of 3,000 forint is payable.
You can change your married name as many times as you like. However, you should be aware that this involves a great deal of paperwork and administrative procedures, so it’s worth thinking carefully before the wedding about how you’d like to use your name – what you like and what you feel comfortable with. If you feel more comfortable keeping your maiden name, don’t be afraid to say so.
2. The name is entered on the marriage certificate
This is very important, as you must have all your documents issued in the name shown on the extract.
3. Applying for a new identity card
As your name has changed, you will need to have your documents replaced.
You must pay particular attention to the most important document: your identity card. You have eight days from the date your name change is recorded in the register to begin this process.
For other documents, there isn’t such a tight deadline, but experience shows that you’ll only be making things harder for yourself if you drag your feet.
Applications for a new identity card can be made at the relevant district office; in Budapest, at the relevant local authority office. There is no charge for issuing the document.
4. Replacement of other documents
Now that your new ID card has been issued in your married name, you’ll gradually need to have your other documents replaced as well.
Take your time, as there’s no specific deadline set for these, but it’s worth getting the procedure over and done with as soon as possible – not least because if you need to sort something out that requires a particular document, the whole process will be delayed if you don’t have it.
You need an identity card issued in your new name in order to be able to replace your other documents, which is why there is a shorter, pre-determined timeframe for this.
Once your new ID card is ready, you can start sorting out the replacement of your other documents. But what exactly needs to be changed?
1. Address card
At any document office or government service centre You can apply for this, regardless of your registered address.
The exhibition is free of charge once a year. If you are no longer eligible for this, the fee is 3,000 Ft.
2. Tax card
First of all, the The data sheet labelled ‘T34’ available on the NAV website needs to be filled in. This or via the Client Portal, or on paper, by post or in person must be delivered At any NAV customer service centre in Hungary or the To the NAV service points operating within government service centres.
The first tax card – requested due to a change of name or required to be issued in the event of theft – is free of charge; in all other cases, the fee is 3,000 Ft.
3. TAJ card
At government service centres and at the health insurance fund of the Government Office is available.
There is no charge for a name change. It is worth noting that in other cases it costs 3,000 Ft; another exception to this is the first card, for which there is no charge either.
4. Driving licence
Issuing a new driving licence is at the relevant district office, In Budapest, the at the relevant district office may be applied for.
There is no charge for issuing the document in the event of a change of name due to a change in marital status.
5. Bank card
It depends on the bank where you need to go and how much it costs.
6. Health-related, cafeteria, hobby, loyalty and other cards
You must also register the change with the utility companies, and if you own a property, you must also notify the Land Registry of the name change following your marriage.
If you have any further questions about the documents you need to replace following a change of surname after marriage, please call the freephone number 1818, which connects directly to the government helpline.
Changing your name after marriage is a joyful occasion, as you can proudly take your partner’s surname. However, there is a lengthy and often trying administrative process involved – be prepared for this.
+1 Tip for a smooth change of surname after marriage
We mentioned earlier that you shouldn’t delay getting your documents sorted. There is one exception to this rule, and that is if you’re setting off on your honeymoon straight away.
If you haven’t booked in advance, it’s easier for you – you simply need to time your trip to take place after the name-change procedure.
If you have booked in advance – that is, if all your bookings are in your old, maiden name – then you should only change the documents after your trip to avoid any inconvenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several ways of taking a married name, and there are various ways in which you can change your name. And, of course, you don’t have to – you can keep your own surname.
Before marriage, you can change the way your name is written free of charge; after marriage, you can do so for a fee. You can do this as many times as you like.
It involves a lot of paperwork. 🙂 You’ll need to have all your documents replaced. Fortunately, of these, only the replacement of your identity card has a deadline; you have 8 days to apply for this after your name change has been recorded in the register of births, marriages and deaths.
