Does remarrying automatically change my legal name, or do I need to apply separately?

Marriage itself doesn't automatically change your legal name in Ontario — your legal name stays whatever it was before the marriage unless and until you actually apply to change it. Many people choose to start using a spouse's surname informally after a wedding, but that everyday practice isn't the same as a legal name change, and identity documents like a passport, driver's licence, or health card won't be updated to reflect a new surname unless you go through the appropriate process.

Ontario provides a process for adopting a spouse's surname after marriage that is generally simpler than the standard Change of Name Act application used for other kinds of name changes, typically relying on proof of the marriage itself rather than the fuller requirements of a general application. Someone remarrying who previously changed their name after a first marriage or divorce should be aware that each change is its own step requiring its own application; none of it happens automatically just because a new marriage occurred. Confirm the current process with the Office of the Registrar General before assuming any particular outcome.