Change your given name or last name

After marriage, either spouse can choose to use a different surname.

This is not a legal change of name under the Change of Name Act.

What you can do

You can use:

• your birth name;
• your previous surname;
• your spouse’s surname; or
• a hyphenated surname, combining your surname and your spouse’s surname.

How to change your name

You do not need to apply for a legal name change.

You can update your name by showing you marriage certificate to organisations.

Optional registration

You can register your married name with the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics. This is called an election by married person.

How to register

1. Complete a notice of election by married person
2. Gather the required documents:
   • A copy of valid, government-issued photo identification
   • Your marriage certificate
3. Submit your application in person or by mail

Where to apply

By mail

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

PO Box 2703 (H-2)

Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

In person

204 Lambert Street, 4th floor

Whitehorse, Yukon

Fees

The cost to register an assumed name is $50. 

Payment methods

We accept: 

• cash; 
• debit; 
• money order; 
• Visa; 
• Mastercard; and 
• American Express. 

Processing time

It can take up to 4 weeks to register.

After you register

You’ll receive a certificate of change of name, election of name by married person.

You can use this certificate or your marriage certificate to update your name with organisations.

Returning to a previous name after separation or divorce is not a legal change of name under the Change of Name Act.

If you did not register your married name

You can return to the name you used immediately before marriage.

You can update your name with organizations by providing documents such as:

• your marriage certificate;
• your divorce certificate; or
• your birth certificate.

You do not need to register your return to a previous name with the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics.

If you registered your married name

If you registered your married name with the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics through an election by married person, you must register your return to a previous name.

This is called a revocation election by married person.

How to apply

1. Complete a notice of revocation election by married person 
2. Gather the required documents
   • A valid government-issued photo identification
   • Your certificate of divorce, decree absolute or annulment documents
3. Submit your application and payment in person or by mail

Where to apply

By mail

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics 

PO Box 2703 (H-2) 

Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

In person

204 Lambert Street, 4th floor

Whitehorse, Yukon 

Fees

The cost to revoke your married name is $25.

Payment methods

We accept:

• cash;
• debit;
• money order;
• Visa;
• Mastercard; and
• American Express.

Processing time

It can take up to 4 weeks to process your application.

After you apply

You’ll receive a certificate of change of name, revocation election of name by married person.

You can use this certificate, your birth certificate or your divorce certificate to update your name with organizations.

A legal change of name changes the child’s official legal name. It updates the birth registration and replaces the previous name on official records.

Before you apply

All legal changes of name are published in the Yukon Gazette under the Change of Name Act.

If you do not want the child’s name published, you must get a court order before applying. Include the court order with your application.

Who can apply

You can apply regardless of where the child was born.

The child must:

• be 18 years of age or younger;
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; and
• live in the Yukon.

Who must consent

Consent may be required from:

• the child, if they are 12 years of age or older;
• any person with custody or access rights; and
• any person affected by the name change, depending on the situation.

If consent cannot be obtained, you may need: 

• a court order; or
• supporting evidence that consent is not required.

How to apply

Step 1: Complete the application

Complete the application for change of name of a child. 

Step 2: Gather your documents 

You must provide: 

• government-issued photo identification for the person applying;
• an affidavit of qualification and bona fides; and

the child's birth certificate or a certified copy of the registration of birth.

The affidavit must be notarized or sworn before a notary public, judge or justice of the peace. You can complete the affidavit free of charge at the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics.

You may also need to provide:

• proof of custody or guardianship; or
• proof of your current address if it differs from the address on your identification.

Additional documents may be required depending on the child's circumstances.

If the child was born in the Yukon

If you do not have a birth certificate, Vital Statistics can search the birth registration for a fee of $1.

If the child was born in another Canadian province or territory

You must obtain a birth certificate before applying.

If the child was born outside Canada

Provide a copy of the child's:

• permanent resident card;
• citizenship card; or
• citizenship certificate.

If you submit copies, include both sides.

Step 3: Submit your application

By mail

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

PO Box 2703 (H-2)

Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

In person

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

204 Lambert Street, 4th floor

Whitehorse, Yukon

Fees

The fee for a legal change of name is $50.

If there are multiple members of your family applying for a legal change of name at the same time, additional family members are $17.50 per person.

We accept:

• cash;
• debit;
• money order;
• Visa;
• Mastercard; and
• American Express.

The fee includes a certificate of change of name.

It does not include a new birth certificate.

Fees may be waived for First Nations, Inuit or Métis people reclaiming traditional names. Proof of identity is not required. 

Processing time

It can take up to 6 weeks to process the application. 

After your application is approved

You’ll receive a certificate of change of name.

You can use this certificate to update the child’s name with banks, schools and other organizations.

If the child was born in the Yukon and you did not order a new birth certificate as part of your application, you can apply for one after the change of name is registered.

If the child was born in another Canadian province or territory, we’ll notify the jurisdiction where the birth was registered. You can then apply to that province or territory for an updated birth certificate.

If the child was born outside Canada, you’re responsible for notifying both the child's country of birth and the Government of Canada of the name change. The child's country of birth may not recognize the name change.

You can apply if the child was born in the Yukon.

This process updates the child’s birth registration. It’s not a legal change of name.

In some cases, you may also request a change to the child’s surname.

To remove a parent from a birth registration, you must obtain a court order from the Yukon Supreme Court.

Who can apply

The application must be made jointly by:

• the parent already listed on the birth registration; and
• the parent being added.

Who must consent

Both applicants must complete a statutory declaration. 

The declaration must be: 

• notarized, or 
• sworn before a judge or justice of the peace.

If applying in person, the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics can complete this at no cost.

If the child is 12 years of age or older, they must also consent.

How to apply

Step 1: Complete the application

Complete the application to add a parent to a birth registration. 

Step 2: Gather your documents

In addition to the application, you need:

• government-issued photo identification for both parents; and
• the child’s birth certificate or registration documents.

Step 3: Submit your application

By mail

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

PO Box 2703 (H-2)

Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

In person

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

204 Lambert Street, 4th floor

Whitehorse, Yukon

Fee

The cost to add a parent to a child’s birth registration is $10.

We accept:

• cash;
• debit;
• money order;
• Visa;
• Mastercard; and
• American Express.

This fee does not include a new birth certificate.

Processing time

It can take up to 4 weeks to process the application.

After your application is approved

You’ll receive confirmation that the birth registration has been updated.

If you did not request a new birth certificate as part of your application, you can apply for one later.

You can apply if:

• the child was born in the Yukon; and
• the given name was given to or used before the child turned 12 years of age.

Who can apply

• a parent;
• a surviving parent;
• a guardian;
• the person who gave the name (for example, an Elder); or
• the child, if they are 19 years of age or older.

Who must consent

If a parent or the person who gave the name applies, all parents listed on the birth registration must consent.

Consent must be provided through a statutory declaration, included in the application package.

The declaration must be: 

• notarized, or
• sworn before a judge or justice of the peace.

If applying in person, the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics can complete this at no cost.

How to apply

Step 1: Complete the application

Complete the application to add or change a given name.

Step 2: Gather your documents

You must provide:

• government-issued photo identification for the applicant; and
• all birth certificates and certified copies of the child's birth registration previously issued to or on behalf of the child.

You must also provide evidence that the given name was given to or used by the child before they turned 12 years of age.

Evidence may include:

• a statutory declaration;
• a baptismal certificate showing the given name under which the child was baptized; or
• other evidence acceptable to the registrar, such as school or health records.

If the applicant is a parent or the person who gave the name, each parent listed on the child's birth registration must provide consent through a statutory declaration.

The statutory declaration must be notarized or sworn before a notary public, judge or justice of the peace. You can complete the statutory declaration free of charge at the Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics.

You may also need to provide:

• a death certificate, if the application is being made by a surviving parent; or
• documents showing guardianship or custody, if the application is being made by a guardian.

Step 3: Submit your application

By mail

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

PO Box 2703 (H-2)

Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

In person

Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics

204 Lambert Street, 4th floor

Whitehorse, Yukon 

Fee

The cost to add or change a child’s name on a birth registration is $10.

We accept: 

• cash;
• debit;
• money order;
• Visa;
• Mastercard; and
• American Express.

This fee does not include a new birth certificate.

Fees may be waived for First Nations, Inuit or Métis people reclaiming traditional names. Proof of identity is not required. 

Processing time

It can take up to 4 weeks.

After your application is approved

You’ll receive confirmation that the birth registration has been updated. 

If you did not request a new birth certificate as part of your application, you can apply for one later.