Married Last Name
In Alberta, a woman may assume the last name of her husband as this is traditionally recognized. She may assume just his last name or her last name combined with his; the order of the two last names is optional.
When a woman marries in Alberta and chooses to assume her husband's last name, Alberta Vital Statistics does not deem this to be a legal change of name. When a couple marries in Alberta, Vital Statistics will not change the woman's birth record to reflect her newly assumed last name nor would a notification document be forwarded to another province/country (in which she was born) advising them of such. When a woman, who marries in Alberta only assumes her husband's last name, she may decide to return to the last name on her birth certificate at any time.
It is important to note that Alberta legislation may differ from other jurisdictions. For example, another province may consider an assumed name, through marriage, a legal change of name. The province may be required, under legislation, to change the woman's birth record (or notify the province in which she was born), to reflect her newly assumed name. It is advisable to contact the province in which you were married to determine their legislation requirements.
Alberta Marriage - Changing Identification
Once married, the woman may start changing her identification. For example, the bride takes the Marriage Statement (presented to the couple at the ceremony) or an official government Marriage Certificate and goes to a registry agent to have her driver's licence and vehicle registration records changed to show the new name. Once she has the driver's licence in the new name, she would take the newly issued driver's licence and the marriage certificate/statement and go to the next place where she wants her name changed and so on.
All identification should be eventually made to have the same name. Some organizations will not accept the Marriage Statement as official proof of marriage and will require an official government Marriage Certificate. Official government documents may be ordered from a registry agent.
A husband may assume the last name of the bride if he so desires. As it is not traditionally recognized for the groom to assume the bride's last name, he may have problems with some organizations that will not recognize this change. An option available to the groom is to have a legal change of name processed. This service is available through a registry agent. Note that a legal change of name will change the groom's name on his birth certificate.
