Changing Last Name After Marriage in the Philippines

A complete, practice-oriented legal guide

1) Big picture

In Philippine law, a woman is not required to take her husband’s surname after marriage. She may adopt it, in several legally recognized formats, but keeping her maiden name is fully valid. A man, by contrast, cannot automatically take his wife’s surname; he would need a judicial change of name.

Changing one’s last name after marriage is therefore a matter of personal choice followed by administrative updates with government agencies, banks, and institutions. Your PSA birth certificate does not “change”; rather, your civil status and name usage change across IDs and records.

2) Legal bases (what the law actually says)

Family Code (E.O. 209):
- Art. 370 (Name used by a married woman): She may use any of the following:
  1. Her maiden first name and maiden surname, and add her husband’s surname (often shown as a hyphenated form, e.g., Ana Santos-Reyes).
  2. Her maiden first name and her husband’s surname (e.g., Ana Reyes).
  3. Her husband’s full name, with a prefix indicating she is his wife (e.g., Mrs. Juan Reyes)—appropriate in social/ceremonial use; IDs typically require a personal first name.
- Art. 371 (Widow / annulment / nullity):
  - A widow may continue using her husband’s surname or revert to her maiden name.
  - A woman whose marriage is annulled or declared void may resume her maiden name.
- Art. 372 (Legal separation): The wife continues using the husband’s surname unless a court—for just causes—authorizes her to resume her maiden name.
Civil Code & name change rules: Changing a surname for reasons other than marriage (e.g., husband taking wife’s surname) generally requires a judicial petition (Rule 103). The Clerical Error Laws (R.A. 9048 as amended by R.A. 10172) mostly cover first-name/nickname and clerical/typographical corrections—not elective surname changes.

Key jurisprudence (doctrinal take-away): Philippine Supreme Court decisions have consistently treated a married woman’s use of her husband’s surname as a right, not an obligation. Government agencies must respect a woman’s lawful choice of surname under Art. 370.

3) Your surname options after marriage (women)

You may adopt any one of these—and you can standardize the exact rendering (with or without hyphen) for consistency across IDs:

Keep your maiden name (e.g., Ana Santos).
Maiden first name + husband’s surname (e.g., Ana Reyes).
Maiden first name + maiden surname + husband’s surname (often hyphenated) (e.g., Ana Santos-Reyes).
“Mrs. + Husband’s Full Name” is socially acceptable but not practical for IDs because it lacks your own given name.

Practical tip: Pick one format and use it consistently everywhere to avoid record mismatches.

4) What does not change automatically

Your PSA birth certificate stays the same.
Your digital identity across agencies (TIN, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, passport, driver’s license, voter record, PhilID, PRC license, etc.) will keep your maiden name until you personally request updates with each agency.

5) When should you update records?

There is no statutory deadline, but inconsistencies can cause headaches (payroll, insurance claims, travel, banking). Many choose to update when they next renew an ID or soon after receiving the PSA-issued Marriage Certificate (SECPA). If you’re traveling soon, consider renewing your passport last (or not at all) until travel is done to match existing bookings.

6) Core documentary requirements (common across agencies)

PSA Marriage Certificate (SECPA) or PSA Report of Marriage (if married abroad).
Valid government ID(s) bearing your current name.
Accomplished update form of the agency (varies).
Photocopies and originals for verification.
Fees for card reprinting/re-issuance (varies).

If married abroad, first Report the Marriage to the Philippine Embassy/Consulate, which forwards it to the Philippine civil registry system so the PSA can issue a Report of Marriage. Most agencies want the PSA copy.

7) Step-by-step administrative updates (what each agency usually asks)

Names of forms may evolve, but the process logic is stable: fill out the agency’s update form, present your PSA marriage document, pay re-issuance fee if any, and wait for the new ID/record.

A. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) – TIN record

Form: BIR 1905 (registration update) or employee-driven updates through employer submissions.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; valid ID(s).
Effect: TIN profile, certificate, and withholdings records will reflect your chosen married name.

B. Social Security System (SSS)

Form: Member Data Change Request (often called E-4 in legacy references).
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; valid ID(s).
Effect: Member record, benefits, and loan records reflect your chosen name; update bank/HMDF links accordingly.

C. PhilHealth

Form: PMRF (PhilHealth Member Registration Form) for data amendment.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; valid ID(s).
Effect: Claims, membership data, and dependents will reflect updates.

D. Pag-IBIG Fund (HDMF)

Form: Member’s Data Form (MDF) or online Member Information update.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; valid ID(s).
Effect: Loan and savings records reflect your chosen name.

E. DFA – Passport

Transaction: Renewal to reflect married surname (or keep your maiden name; both are lawful).
Bring: Current passport; PSA marriage certificate (or PSA ROM); other IDs.
Reversion:
- Widowhood: You may keep the husband’s surname or revert to maiden using the death certificate.
- Annulment/Nullity/Recognized Foreign Divorce: Present the final decree (with certificate of finality, if applicable) to resume maiden name.
- Legal separation: You generally remain under the husband’s surname unless a court authorizes reversion.
Travel caution: Airline tickets must exactly match your passport name.

F. LTO – Driver’s License

Form: ADL (Application for Driver’s License) for revision of records.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; valid ID(s).
Effect: New card with updated name; standard replacement fee.

G. PRC – Professional Regulation Commission (if licensed professional)

Process: Petition for change of status due to marriage.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; professional ID; photos; fees.
Effect: License, Certificate of Registration, and the PRC Online Profile reflect the new name.

H. COMELEC – Voter’s Record

Form: Application for Change/Correction of Entries during registration/assisted transactions.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; valid ID(s).
Effect: Precinct record and voter’s ID/acknowledgment reflect your updated name.

I. NBI Clearance

Process: Apply online using the name you want on the certificate; bring PSA marriage certificate for interview if needed.
Effect: Clearance can reflect married name (and sometimes shows AKA entries to bridge records).

J. PhilSys – National ID (PhilID)

Process: Demographic updates at designated PhilSys Registration/Update centers.
Bring: PSA marriage certificate; current PhilID.
Effect: Digital and physical PhilID can be reissued with your updated surname and civil status.

K. Banks, e-wallets, insurance, telcos, employers, schools

Bring: PSA marriage certificate; updated government ID(s).
Effect: Signature cards, beneficiary designations, payroll, policies, diplomas/records updated. Ask about cascading updates across linked products.

8) Special situations & edge cases

Husband taking wife’s surname: Not automatic under current law. Requires a court-approved change of name (Rule 103) or specific statutory basis (rare).
Married abroad: Update starts with PSA Report of Marriage. Without it, agencies may treat your marriage as unreflected in PH civil registry.
Foreign divorce involving a Filipino: If a foreign divorce validly obtained by the foreign spouse dissolves the marriage, the Filipino spouse may record the foreign decree locally and resume maiden name; consult counsel for recognition/annotation steps.
Muslim Filipinos (P.D. 1083, Code of Muslim Personal Laws): Customary naming practices apply. A Muslim woman may keep or adopt her husband’s surname consistent with Muslim law and custom; coordinate with the Shari’a court/LCR for records alignment.
Legal separation: No dissolution of marriage; wife ordinarily continues using the husband’s surname unless a court allows reversion for just cause.
Widowhood: A widow may continue using the husband’s surname or revert to maiden name at any time; update agencies as preferred.
Annulment/Nullity: After a final court decree, the woman may resume her maiden name; present the decree (and proof of finality, if required) to agencies.
Hyphenation vs. spacing: The law allows you to add the husband’s surname; hyphenation is an accepted formatting choice. Be consistent.

9) Practical sequencing (to minimize friction)

Decide the exact name format you’ll use everywhere.
Secure PSA Marriage Certificate/Report of Marriage (multiple SECPA copies).
Update TIN/SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG (these feed payroll/benefits).
Update banks/insurers/employer/HMO (salary and claims).
Update PRC (if applicable) and NBI/COMELEC.
Update LTO and PhilID.
Update Passport last, timed with travel plans.

10) Frequently asked questions

Do I have to change my surname? No. It’s optional. You may keep your maiden name for life.
Can I switch back later? Yes, in cases of widowhood you may revert using the death certificate; for annulment/nullity/recognized foreign divorce, use the final decree. After legal separation, reversion requires a court’s authorization.
What if different IDs show different names? It’s not criminal per se, but it causes verification problems. Standardize and update major IDs to your chosen format.
Do my children’s surnames follow my choice? Children’s surnames follow rules on filiation/legitimacy (Family Code; R.A. 9255 as amended). Your personal name choice doesn’t automatically alter a child’s surname. Changes to a child’s surname are governed by separate laws and procedures.
Will my birth certificate be amended? No. Your PSA birth record remains as is; your marriage record evidences the change in name usage.

11) Clean documentation habits (to save you time later)

Keep a “name change kit” folder: PSA marriage certificate(s), valid IDs, passport, proof of billing, 1×1/2×2 photos (some offices still want these), and soft copies (PDF/JPEG).
Keep a change log (date, agency, reference no.).
Use exact same spelling and punctuation (e.g., hyphen vs. space) across forms.
For online portals, screenshot confirmation pages and keep email receipts.

12) Short checklists

Primary checklist

Decide surname format
Get PSA Marriage Certificate / Report of Marriage
Update BIR, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG
Update bank(s), employer, insurer/HMO
Update PRC (if any), NBI, COMELEC
Update LTO, PhilID
Renew passport (timed with travel)

Documents to bring (typical)

PSA Marriage Certificate (SECPA) / PSA ROM
1–2 valid IDs
Agency-specific update form
Payment for card re-issuance
Supporting court/death documents (if reverting)

13) Bottom line

Choice: A married woman may take her husband’s surname, but doesn’t have to.
Method: Your PSA birth record stays; you update each agency’s records/ID using your PSA marriage document.
Consistency: Pick a format and apply it everywhere.
Special cases: Widowhood and nullity/annulment allow reversion; legal separation needs court authorization to revert; husbands cannot simply adopt wives’ surnames without a court order.

This article is designed for practical use. For unusual circumstances (foreign divorce recognition, multiple citizenships, religious law intersections, prior name changes), consult counsel for document strategy and sequencing.