How to Update Your Civil Status from Single to Married in the Philippines

A practical, legally grounded, step-by-step guide

TL;DR: Once your marriage is registered, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) becomes the single source of truth that you are married. Your birth certificate does not change, but PSA can issue your Marriage Certificate and Advisory on Marriages (AOM). Changing to your spouse’s surname is optional under Philippine law. Every ID and agency record (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, BIR, passport, etc.) must be updated one by one using your PSA marriage record and the agency’s update form.

1) Civil-status 101: what really changes (and what doesn’t)

PSA civil registry is authoritative. Your marriage is recorded with the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) where the wedding occurred and transmitted to PSA. Once it’s in PSA, you can request:
- PSA Marriage Certificate (or Report of Marriage if married abroad), and
- Advisory on Marriages (AOM) showing any marriage(s) recorded.
Your PSA Birth Certificate stays as is. It does not get “edited” to say married.
IDs & databases don’t auto-update. You must notify each agency/bank/employer.
Surname choice is yours. Under the Civil Code (Art. 370), a married woman may:
1. Keep her maiden name (no change),
2. Use her maiden first name + husband’s surname, or
3. Use her maiden first name + maiden surname + husband’s surname (with or without a hyphen). A married man does not take his wife’s surname under current law. Tip: Decide once and be consistent everywhere.
Property regime starts at marriage. By default (Family Code), spouses are under Absolute Community of Property unless a prenuptial agreement says otherwise. This affects ownership after the wedding, not the paperwork you file to update IDs.

2) Before anything else: make sure your marriage is properly registered

If married in the Philippines

The officiant normally files the Certificate of Marriage with the LCR.
Get an LCR-certified copy first (useful while waiting), then request a PSA-issued copy once available.

If married abroad (Filipino spouse)

File a Report of Marriage (ROM) with the Philippine Embassy/Consulate where the marriage took place.
After transmittal to PSA, request your PSA ROM. Many PH agencies require the PSA version; some may temporarily accept the foreign marriage certificate with apostille/legalization plus proof of ROM filing.

3) Core documents you’ll use again and again

PSA Marriage Certificate (or PSA Report of Marriage).
Valid government ID(s) (current name).
1–3 photocopies of each document (some offices keep a copy).
Passport-type photo, occasionally required (e.g., PRC).
For name change due to marriage: bring any ID showing your old name and your PSA marriage record showing the new surname basis.
If your PSA record has a spelling/date error, fix the civil registry first (via RA 9048/10172 procedures for clerical errors) before updating IDs.

4) Recommended order of updates (practical, not mandatory)

Employer/HR (so your payroll/HMO reflect the change)
SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG
BIR (TIN/RDO records)
Banks/credit cards/e-wallets (payroll & KYC)
PhilSys (National ID)
LTO (driver’s license), PRC (if licensed professional), NBI
DFA (passport) — renew if you choose to change your surname on the passport
COMELEC (voter record)
Other memberships: insurance/HMO, telcos, utilities, school/alumni, licenses, permits

Why this order? Benefits and payroll (SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG/BIR) matter immediately; banks need updated KYC; travel documents can follow.

5) Agency-by-agency: what to file, what to bring, what to expect

General rule: Bring your PSA marriage record, one valid ID, and the agency’s update form. Photocopies help. Policies and fees can change; exact forms sometimes get new versions, but the purpose below remains the same.

A. Social Security System (SSS)

What: Update civil status and name (if adopting spouse’s surname); update beneficiaries.
Form: Member Data Change Request (MDCR / Form E-4).
Proofs: PSA marriage record; valid ID.
Tip: Add/change beneficiaries while you’re there.

B. PhilHealth

What: Update civil status/name; add spouse as dependent (only if your spouse is not an active principal member).
Form: PMRF (PhilHealth Member Registration Form) for updating.
Proofs: PSA marriage record; valid ID.

C. Pag-IBIG Fund (HDMF)

What: Update civil status/name; update next of kin/beneficiaries.
Form: Member’s Data Form (MDF) (updating).
Proofs: PSA marriage record; valid ID.
If you have a housing/MP2 account: update your records there too.

D. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

What: Update registration data (name/civil status/RDO record).
Forms:
- Form 1905 (Registration Update) — generally for self-employed, mixed-income, or those updating their own TIN records;
- Form 2305 (Employee’s Information Update) — often processed through your employer for employees.
Tax effect: Under the TRAIN Law, personal/additional exemptions were removed; updating civil status does not change your income tax due, but it keeps your records and certificates (like BIR 2316) correct.

E. Philippine Identification System (PhilSys / National ID)

What: Update demographic data (name due to marriage; civil status).
How: Visit a PhilSys center for a data update with your PSA marriage record and an ID.
Note: Your physical PhilID/ePhilID may be re-issued; keep the old one until advised.

F. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Passport

Passport doesn’t show civil status, only your name.
If keeping your maiden name: you may keep using your current passport until it expires.
If adopting your spouse’s surname: file a passport renewal using standard application, present PSA marriage record (or PSA ROM if married abroad) and valid ID(s).
Travel plans soon? Consider renewing after you’ve updated banks/biometrics to avoid mismatched identities during trips.

G. Land Transportation Office (LTO) – Driver’s License

What: Change of name/civil status on your license.
How: File an Application for Driver’s License (ADL) for data amendment; present PSA marriage record and a valid ID.

H. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

What: For licensed professionals, Petition for Change of Registered Name due to Marriage (and new PRC ID).
Proofs: PSA marriage record; current PRC ID; photos as required.

I. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – Clearance

What: If you changed your surname, apply for a new NBI Clearance under your current name.
Proofs: PSA marriage record; valid ID(s).

J. Commission on Elections (COMELEC) – Voter Record

What: Change of name/correction of entries and/or transfer of registration (if you moved).
How: File the appropriate application at your local Office of the Election Officer.
Tip: Do this outside the election ban periods; bring PSA marriage record and ID.

K. GSIS (for government employees)

What: Update Member’s Data Record (MDR); add beneficiaries.
Proofs: PSA marriage record; valid ID; agency HR endorsement if needed.

L. Banks, e-wallets, insurance & others

Banks/e-wallets: Update KYC (name/civil status/signatures); some banks may issue new cards/checkbooks.
Insurance/HMO: Update beneficiaries and dependents; submit marriage record.
Utilities/telcos/schools/alumni: Update accounts and contact details for billing and credentials.

6) Special situations & good-to-know rules

Name change is optional. You cannot be forced to adopt your spouse’s surname. Many women keep their maiden surname professionally and adopt their husband’s in family records; the key is consistency on government IDs.
Hyphen or no hyphen? Both are commonly accepted for “maiden surname + husband’s surname.” Use the exact same styling everywhere to avoid database mismatches.
Married abroad (Filipino spouse): File a Report of Marriage first; most agencies prefer the PSA-issued ROM before updating records.
Same-sex marriages: As of this writing, marriages must be recognized under Philippine law to update civil status in the PSA civil registry and downstream agencies. If you had a same-sex marriage abroad, ask the relevant PH office what documents they accept; many will require a PSA ROM (which is generally unavailable for marriages the Philippines does not recognize).
Children born before your marriage (no legal impediment): The Family Code allows legitimation by subsequent marriage. This is a separate civil registry process for the child’s records via the LCR/PSA.
Errors on the marriage certificate: Use RA 9048/RA 10172 procedures to correct clerical mistakes (spelling, simple date/sex errors). Substantive issues require a court petition. Update IDs after the PSA record is corrected.
Data privacy & signatures: Under the Data Privacy Act, agencies should protect your personal data; still, hand over only what’s required. For documents with different names (old vs. new), an “Affidavit of One and the Same Person” can help bridge identity in transactions.

7) Clean, consistent paperwork: a mini-checklist

Decide your surname strategy (keep maiden vs. adopt spouse’s).
Secure PSA Marriage Certificate (or PSA ROM).
Scan/photocopy: PSA marriage record, valid ID(s), passport bio page, SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG IDs.
Fill out forms in block letters, using the same spelling, spacing, and hyphenation of your chosen surname.
Bring 2 pens, 1–2 photos (just in case), and small cash for documentary copies.

8) Frequently asked questions (quick answers)

Q: Do I have to change my passport after marriage? A: Only if you want your passport to show your new surname. If you keep your maiden name, keep using your passport until it expires.

Q: My employer insists I change my surname. Can they? A: No. Adopting your spouse’s surname is permissive, not mandatory. Your employer can (and should) update your civil status, and use whichever name you legally choose.

Q: Which agency should I update first? A: Typically SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG and BIR (benefits/payroll), then banks, then IDs like PhilSys, LTO, PRC, NBI, and passport.

Q: My PSA marriage record isn’t available yet. Can I start? A: Some offices accept an LCR-certified copy temporarily, but many require PSA-issued copies. It’s safest to wait for the PSA copy for uniformity.

Q: Will my taxes change after marriage? A: Generally no under TRAIN (no more personal/additional exemptions). Still update BIR so your records and certificates match reality.

9) Simple templates you can reuse

A. HR update email (quick draft)

Subject: Update of Civil Status and Name Dear HR, I was married on [date]. Please update my records to civil status Married. I am [keeping my maiden name / adopting my spouse’s surname: ___]. Attached are my PSA Marriage Certificate and valid ID. Kindly cascade to SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and payroll/HMO as applicable. Thank you, [Your signature]

B. Bank/KYC request (counter form “remarks”)

“Requesting update of civil status to Married and name to [new full name] per attached PSA Marriage Certificate. Old name: [old full name]. Kindly reissue card/records accordingly.”

10) Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Inconsistent surname formats across agencies → Pick one format and stick to it.
Starting with the passport → Update benefits/banks first to avoid pay or KYC delays.
Forgetting beneficiaries → Update SSS, GSIS (if applicable), insurance, Pag-IBIG.
Not keeping copies → Keep a “marriage update pack” (PDF scans + photocopies).
Proceeding with a PSA error → Fix PSA record first to prevent cascading mismatches.

Final notes (friendly disclaimer)

This guide is based on Philippine statutes and standard agency practice. It’s general information, not a substitute for personalized legal advice. Forms, fees, and workflows can change; when in doubt, ask the frontline office what exact form/version they currently require and whether PSA-issued copies are mandatory for your case.

If you want, tell me your situation (employee or self-employed, local or married abroad, which IDs you already have), and I’ll turn this into a personalized one-page checklist you can print and take to each office.