Process of Changing Your Maiden Name to Your Married Name in Philippine Records
1. Why (and Whether) You Need to Do It
Under Philippine law, marriage changes civil status, not a woman’s legal name. Article 370 of the Civil Code merely allows, but never compels, a wife to:
- keep her maiden first name + maiden surname + husband’s surname;
- keep her maiden first name + husband’s surname; or
- use “Mrs.” + husband’s full name. (Opinion Inquirer)
The Supreme Court in Remo v. Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2010) affirmed that the choice is optional and exclusively the woman’s. (RESPICIO & CO.)
Bottom-line: You may update your records to carry your husband’s surname only if you choose to do so. If you keep your maiden name, no “change-of-name” proceedings are required.
2. Legal Bases & Key Statutes
| Instrument | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Civil Code, Art. 370 | Enumerates the three permissible name formats for a married woman. |
| RA 9048 & RA 10172 | Cover corrections of clerical errors; do not apply when merely adopting a husband’s surname. |
| New Philippine Passport Act (RA 11983, 2023) | Sec. 5(c) lets a married woman adopt her husband’s surname on first issuance or renewal; Sec. 5(f) lets her later revert once. (Department of Foreign Affairs) |
| Family Code, Art. 63(1) | Confirms that marriage affects civil status. |
| PhilSys Act (RA 11055) | Allows updating of National ID demographics, including married surname. (Philippine Identification System) |
3. Master Document: Your PSA-Issued Marriage Certificate
Obtain at least three PSA-certified copies (request online or at any PSA Serbilis outlet). Many agencies retain one copy. (Philippine Statistics Authority)
4. Step-by-Step Updates Across Government Agencies
| Agency / Record | Form & Core Requirements | Where / How to File | Fee* | Standard Processing Time* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhilSys (National ID) | PhilSys-8 Updating Form, PSA marriage cert, valid ID | Any PhilSys Registration Center | Free | 30 – 60 days for new card | (Philippine Statistics Authority) |
| Passport (DFA) | Online appointment, Application Form, current passport, PSA marriage cert, valid ID | DFA Consular Offices | P 950 (regular), P 1 200 (express) | 7 – 15 working days (Metro Manila) | (Department of Foreign Affairs) |
| SSS | Form E-4 (Member Data Change Request), PSA marriage cert, 1–2 valid IDs | Any SSS branch or via My.SSS upload | Free | Same day if complete | (Social Security System) |
| PhilHealth | PMRF (tick For Updating), PSA marriage cert, valid ID | Any PhilHealth office or employers’ liaison | Free | 1 day | (PhilHealth) |
| Pag-IBIG | MCIF, PSA marriage cert, valid ID | Pag-IBIG branch | Free | 1 day | (DepEd Pines) |
| BIR / TIN | Form 1905 (+ Form 0605 if replacing TIN card), PSA marriage cert, 2 IDs | Your RDO | P 100 (card) | 1–3 days | (Help Desk) |
| PRC Professional License | PRC Petition for Change of Name (PRD-22), PSA marriage cert, passport-size photo, PRC ID | PRC office or online appointment | P 225 | 1 – 2 weeks | (Professional Regulation Commission) |
| Driver’s License (LTO) | Application for Driver’s License (ADL) – Revision of Records, current license, PSA marriage cert | LTO Licensing Center | P 100 (revision) | Same day | (LTO Portal) |
| COMELEC Voter Record | CEF-1A – Application for Correction / Change of Entry, PSA marriage cert, 1 ID | Local Election Officer; any Register Anywhere Program site | Free | Record updated in 1–2 months | (Respicio & Co.) |
| NBI Clearance | New online application (select NEW), PSA marriage cert, 1 ID | nbi.gov.ph + NBI Center visit | P 155 | 1 day after biometrics | (NBI Clearance Online) |
| GSIS (Gov’t employees) | Change of Information Form, PSA marriage cert, UMID/GSIS ID | GSIS Servicing Office | Free | 1 – 5 days | (agency circulars) |
*Fees & timelines are averages for 2025 and vary by location/volume.
5. Do You Need to Amend Your Birth Certificate?
No. Adopting a husband’s surname does not alter facts of birth; therefore, no RA 9048 petition is necessary. What changes is only the name that appears on ID-bearing records.
6. Practical Workflow
- Gather: PSA marriage cert (3-5 copies), original IDs, photocopies, passport-size photos.
- Start with high-impact IDs: Passport → PhilSys → UMID (SSS/GSIS) → Driver’s License.
- Update tax & employment: BIR then employer HR records/payroll.
- Sync benefits: PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, SSS.
- Finalize clearances: NBI, voter record, PRC.
- Private sector: banks, insurance, utilities—present any government ID already bearing your married name.
Tip: Bring both maiden-name and married-name IDs while agencies transition; expect digital platforms (e-GovPH, e-Gov Super App) to sync automatically once PhilSys is updated.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I hyphenate (e.g., Cruz-Reyes)? | Yes. Art. 370 allows adding the husband’s surname; hyphenation is widely accepted so long as the husband’s surname appears in full. |
| What if I work abroad? | Update your Philippine passport at the nearest embassy/consulate; many posts accept foreign-issued marriage certificates once apostilled. |
| Do I have to update immediately? | There is no statutory deadline, but mismatched IDs can delay banking transactions, visas, and inheritance documents. |
| Can I later drop my husband’s surname? | Yes—on passports, RA 11983 lets you revert once without court action. For civil registry records you may simply resume using your maiden name; if you want the husband’s surname stricken from a birth record, a judicial petition may be required. |
| Is an affidavit enough? | No. Government offices require the PSA marriage certificate plus their specific forms. |
8. Penalties for Non-Update
- Tax filings under the wrong name can trigger BIR “discrepancy” letters.
- Unmatched PhilSys vs. SSS may delay loan or benefit claims.
- Air-travel mismatches between passport and ticket can bar boarding.
9. Checklist (printable)
- PSA marriage certificates (_________ copies)
- 4 × Passport-size photos
- DFA passport appointment
- PhilSys Updating Form filed
- SSS E-4 submitted
- PhilHealth PMRF submitted
- Pag-IBIG MCIF submitted
- BIR 1905 + new TIN card claimed
- PRC petition lodged (if licensed)
- LTO license revised
- NBI clearance re-issued
- COMELEC record corrected
- Employer HR & payroll updated
- Banks / insurers / e-wallets updated
10. Conclusion
Changing from maiden to married surname in the Philippines is primarily an administrative cascade—each agency has its own form, but nearly all hinge on the same PSA marriage certificate. Plan your appointments, keep multiple certified copies, and update digital records as soon as you receive a primary ID (passport, PhilSys or UMID) in your married name. With the 2023–2025 digital reforms—PhilSys updating services, the DFA’s passport portal, and online SSS & BIR facilities—the process is now faster and largely paper-lite compared with a decade ago.