Ask a Question - Name Change: Ontarians, are you 'assuming' or 'electing'???

Name Change: Ontarians, are you 'assuming' or 'electing'???

Okay so I thought I knew what I was going to do for this whole name change thing and I THOUGHT it was going to be super easy. I read it over though and now I'm so very confused!

As Ontarians we have 2 options:

1) To assume your parteners name- this does not change your name 'legally' but if you assume your name all of your cards (licence, health card...) contain your new name...everything except for you birth certificate. It seems like this is very common practice for Ontarians and saves paper work (since non is required you just need all new cards).

2) To Elect your partners name - This changes it legally and therefore everything including your birthcertificate changes. It's a little more work (you need your wedding certificate and need to fill out a form and send it in)
Both ways seem to be free as long as you do it within 90days of getting married (after that it looks like it cost $15 for the Electing option).

So my question to you....What are you doing? Assuming? Electing? and WHY?

I feel like Electing would be the best option, so that my birthcertificate is the same as everything else...it's an extra paper to fill out, but I feellike I might as well go full out and take the extra step, either way I have to change most of my cards anyway,right?
Is their other reasons that people do one over the other??

I'm pretty confused:S

i'm probably going to assume because i don't want my birth certificate to be changed. when i was born my last name was my maiden name and i want to retain that piece of my history. plus, i'm just adding his last name to mine so its not like its going to be completely different.

have you found any info about changing a passport??

I think if I had an option, I'd assume also. My name is my name until I get married. Then, with my marriage certificate, my name changes to his. I think it's a nice way to start your life fresh, so to speak, and it seems like it would be easier for your future family to find you if they are doing family searches. But that really doesn't make a lot of sense. Well, in my head it does. If it does to you... welcome to my world, and run away now. ;-)

It does look like when you "elect" a name change that your birth certificate actually will show both names...maiden and new.
Although I'm not sure how it would work if your adding his to yours...

For changing passports...it says that your passport definitely has to match with name on your other governement ID...and it seems like you have to apply for a new one instead of just "renewing" online.
Here's what you need:
To obtain a passport in your common-law surname, you must submit:
•an application form completed in full (you can find it in the link)
•proof of Canadian citizenship;
•supporting identification in your married name;
•two photos, one of which is signed by the guarantor;
•the required fees (looks like about $90)
•any valid Canadian travel document, if applicable.

and the link for that: http://www.pptc.gc.ca/cdn/section1.aspx?lang=eng

Men have it way to easy! :P

I assumed on my first marriage and I'm going to assume again this time. I liked keeping my birth cert. as is because that was my name at birth and changing the cards was super easy... it was also super easy to change them BACK after my divorce... Not saying that will happen but...yeah, that's what I did :)

assume. It's just easier. I had just gotten all my ID from when my wallet was stolen, and now i gotta go back and do it all over again to add my new last name.

I'm with you, I think I will elect...but I had no idea about this so thanks for the info! I'll have to look into it more for sure :)

I would look at this from a genealogy standpoint. When your grandkids' grandkids are researching their family tree, is it easier to trace back the steps to your family if you assume or if you elect?

Since both of your names would be on your BC, my guess would be elect? But I'd ask someone that does this a lot. (I have nada experience in this.) And who knows, it may not matter at all, and then it's back to square one. :)

Good luck!

I haven't decide if I want to change it yet. My hubby would love me to assume it. But yes is to much papperwork and im into the immigration process right now. So I cant do it.... If you have the time and is the right moment go for it. Change it all, that is if you want to leave your parents name.

what a great post! I had no idea was was involved in name changing. As long as my birth certificate will have both my maided and married name, I will definatley elect my FH's name

It's decided! I'm going to elect! I sent away for the marriage certificate and the name changing forms so it's all coming together, I've also already started changing some of my cards, like bank cards/visa...next is license, health card, figuring out the birth certificate (not sure if they sent this automatically when I fill out my forms) and then passport! I think that's all I have to change...Hopefully I don't forget anything!

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