Alternatives to Easy Name Change After Divorce in NSW
If you're looking at Easy Name Change after your NSW divorce and wondering whether there's a better option, start here: you may not need a paid name change service at all. In most cases, reverting to your maiden name after divorce in NSW is free — your marriage certificate and sealed divorce order are the only documents the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages requires. The $195 formal name change fee applies only when you're changing to an entirely new name, not reverting to a pre-marriage surname.
Easy Name Change (from $39 for print-at-home to $169 for a certified kit) solves one narrow problem well: it generates pre-filled notification letters for Australian companies and agencies. But if your post-divorce admin extends beyond name changes — and it almost certainly does — paying separately for name-change letters leaves the harder tasks (super splitting, property transfers, account closures, estate planning) unaddressed.
How the Options Compare
| Factor | DIY (Free) | Easy Name Change | Comprehensive Post-Divorce Checklist | Family Law Solicitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | $39–$169 | Under A$40 one-time | $350–$600/hour |
| Name change coverage | You write your own letters | Pre-filled notification letters | Full BDM → Transport → Services Australia sequence | Delegates to you anyway |
| Super splitting | Not covered | Not covered | Form 6 process + 28-day rule | Full legal handling |
| Property transfer | Not covered | Not covered | Section 68 stamp duty exemption walkthrough | Files on your behalf |
| Estate planning | Not covered | Not covered | Will, BDBN, insurance beneficiary updates | Full legal handling |
| Account closures | Not covered | Not covered | Bank, credit, mortgage separation steps | Typically delegates |
| Best for | People who only need to change their name and are comfortable writing letters | People who want pre-filled letters and have no other post-divorce tasks | People managing the full post-divorce administrative transition | Contested or complex cases |
Option 1: Do It Yourself (Free)
The NSW BDM name reversion process requires:
- Your original or certified marriage certificate
- Your sealed Divorce Order from the FCFCOA
- A visit to Service NSW or an online application through the BDM portal
Once BDM processes the reversion, you take the updated record to Transport for NSW (within 14 days), then Services Australia, then your bank and other institutions. Each agency has its own form and its own requirements, but the process is documented on their websites.
The catch: you have to research each agency's requirements yourself, figure out the correct order, and write your own notification letters. For someone with 15–20 agencies to update, this takes significant time. If you're comfortable with that, this is the cheapest path.
Option 2: Easy Name Change ($39–$169)
Easy Name Change generates ready-to-sign notification letters for a wide range of Australian companies and government agencies. You select your organisations, the service generates the letters, and you print and post (or they print and post for you at the higher tier).
What it does well: eliminates the tedium of writing individual letters. The certified kit ($169) includes pre-filled, ready-to-post letters.
What it doesn't cover: the sequencing problem. It doesn't tell you that BDM must happen before Transport for NSW, or that your driver licence must update before your bank account. It also covers name changes only — not super splitting, property transfers, stamp duty exemptions, joint debt separation, estate planning, or any of the other 20+ tasks that follow a divorce.
If the only thing you need to do after your divorce is change your name across multiple agencies, Easy Name Change is efficient. If you have property, super, or joint accounts to deal with, you'll still need something else for the rest.
Free Download
Get the New South Wales — After-Divorce Life-Admin Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Option 3: A Comprehensive Post-Divorce Checklist
A guide like the NSW After-Divorce Checklist covers the full administrative transition — not just name changes. It maps every task in chronological order: identity updates in week one, financial separation in month one, super and property in the first 90 days, estate planning throughout.
What it adds over Easy Name Change:
- Chronological sequencing — every task placed in the order NSW agencies require, so you never file out of sequence
- Super splitting walkthrough — the Form 6 process, 28-day trustee notice rule, and the difference between accumulation and defined-benefit schemes
- Stamp duty exemption guidance — how to claim the Section 68 exemption before lodging a property transfer with NSW Land Registry Services
- Estate planning reset — why your will still names your ex during separation, and how to fix it
- Printable worksheets — a name change document inventory, agency update tracker, financial account separator, super splitting tracker, estate planning audit, and quick-reference contacts
What it doesn't do: generate pre-filled notification letters for specific companies. You'll write your own brief notification, but the guide tells you exactly what to say and who to contact.
Option 4: Hire a Family Law Solicitor ($350–$600/hour)
A solicitor handles everything — but charges their full hourly rate for administrative tasks that don't require legal expertise. Closing a joint bank account doesn't require a law degree. Neither does updating your Medicare card.
When this makes sense: contested property settlements, enforcement of consent orders, defined-benefit super valuations (SASS, SANCS), and any situation where your ex is non-cooperative. If you're in this category, you genuinely need legal representation.
When it doesn't: routine post-divorce admin. Most solicitors delegate the administrative tasks (name changes, account closures, ID updates) to their clients anyway — and bill for the time spent explaining what to do.
Who This Is For
- NSW residents who have already found Easy Name Change and are evaluating whether it covers everything they need
- People with property, super, joint debts, or estate planning tasks beyond name changes
- Anyone comparing the cost of different post-divorce admin solutions before committing
Who This Is NOT For
- People whose only post-divorce task is literally changing their name (Easy Name Change is fine for this)
- Anyone in an active property or custody dispute requiring legal representation
- People with complex international or corporate structures that require specialist advice
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free to revert to my maiden name in NSW?
In most cases, yes. If you're reverting to the surname on your birth certificate (your maiden name), the NSW BDM process requires only your marriage certificate and sealed divorce order. The $195 formal name change fee applies when you're changing to a name you've never legally held. The marriage certificate establishes the link between your pre-marriage and married names; the divorce order gives you the right to revert.
Can I use Easy Name Change for the name part and a checklist for everything else?
Yes — the two aren't mutually exclusive. Easy Name Change generates notification letters; a comprehensive checklist covers the sequencing, super splitting, property transfers, and estate planning. However, the overlap in name-change coverage means you may be paying twice for the same information about which agencies to contact.
How many agencies do I actually need to notify after a name change in NSW?
Typically 15–25, depending on your situation. The core list includes BDM, Transport for NSW (driver licence), Services Australia (Medicare, Centrelink), the ATO, your employer, your bank(s), your super fund(s), insurance providers, utility companies, your GP, your children's school, the electoral roll, and the RMS for vehicle registration. Easy Name Change covers many of these with pre-filled letters; a comprehensive checklist covers them with instructions and a tracking worksheet.
What if I only need to change my name and split super?
A name-change-only service won't help with super splitting — that's a completely separate process involving Form 6, court filing, and trustee notification. You'd need either a comprehensive post-divorce checklist that covers both, or a solicitor for the super component (which typically costs $1,500–$3,000 on its own).
Get Your Free New South Wales — After-Divorce Life-Admin Checklist
Download the New South Wales — After-Divorce Life-Admin Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.