By what last name would you like us to write to you? Were you married or in a registered partnership? Or are you about to get married or enter into a registered partnership? You can tell municipality yourself how all government agencies should address you from now on. This is called name use.

Description

Your last name is listed in the civil registry and in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) of municipality. A last name is also called gender name or birth name. Or, in the case of a woman, maiden name. Your last name does not change when you get married or enter into a registered partnership.

Would you like municipality and other (government) organizations to write to you using a different last name? For example, your partner's last name? Then you can indicate this at municipality with a request 'indication of name use'. The municipality and other (government) organizations will then use this name. For example, if they send you mail. The surname you were given at birth remains on your official documents, for example your passport or driver's license.

Suppose your name is J. de Wit and your partner's name is P. Jansen. You can then choose from 4 names:

  • J. Jansen
  • J. de Wit
  • J. de Wit-Jansen
  • J. Jansen-de Wit

Terms

You can request a designation of name if you:

  • are married
  • entered into a registered partnership
  • are divorced
  • have become a widow or widower

It does not matter whether you are male or female.

Term

The municipality must decide within 4 weeks. The municipality announces the decision in writing.