ACTIn ForceAct
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997
20Registration of change of name
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20 Registration of change of name
(1) The registrar-general must register a change of name.
(2) However, the registrar-general must not register a change of name
unless satisfied—
(a) of the identity and age of the person whose name is to be
changed; and
(b) that the change is not sought for a fraudulent or other improper
purpose; and
(c) if the application is under section 19 and relates to a child who
is at least 14 years old (other than a young person mentioned in
paragraph (d))—that the child either consents to the change of
name or cannot understand the meaning or implications of the
change of name; and
(d) if the application is for registration of a change of any of a young
person’s given names under section 19, and the application
relates to a young person who has been granted leave by the
ACAT for registration of a change of any of the young person’s
given names under section 29H—that the young person
consents to the change of given name.
(3) Also, the registrar-general may require the applicant to provide any
evidence that is necessary to satisfy the registrar-general—
(a) that any particular or information set out in the application is
correct; or
(b) of any matter mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) The registrar-general must register a change of name if satisfied that
the name of a person whose birth is registered in the ACT––
(a) has been changed under a law of the Commonwealth or a
corresponding law; or
(b) should be changed having regard to an order or finding of any
court in Australia.
(5) Subject to subsection (4) and section 19 (3), the registrar-general must
not register a change of name if, as a result of the change, the name
would become a prohibited name.