On page 1, beginning on line 7, strike all of subsection (1) and insert the following:

"(1) Any person desiring to change his or her surname at the time of marriage may so indicate in the space provided on the Washington state department of health marriage certificate form. Surname changes under this section are elective and neither party to a marriage is required to change surnames.

(a) Either or both parties to a marriage, without the intent to defraud, may elect to change the surname by which that party is known at the time of solemnization of the marriage by so indicating in the space provided on the Washington state department of health marriage certificate form prior to submission and acceptance of the marriage certificate form by the county auditor.

(b) Elective surname changes made pursuant to this section and entered on the marriage certificate form are limited to one of the following surnames:

(i) The surname of the other party;

(ii) Any former surname of either party;

(iii) A name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of either party; or

(iv) A combination name separated by a hyphen or space, provided that each part of the combination surname is the premarriage surname or the former surname of either party.

(c) A copy of the marriage certificate form, certified by the state registrar or the recording officer in the county of record and on which a surname change has been elected, entered, and identified as provided by this section, shall be accepted at state and local government offices for purposes of effectuating such a surname change.

(d) Nothing in this section abrogates the right of either party to adopt a different surname through the provisions of RCW 4.24.130 at a future date."

On page 1, line 16, after "certificate" insert "pursuant to subsection (1) of this section"

On page 2, line 1, after "certificate" insert "pursuant to subsection (1) of this section"

EFFECT: Specifies that surname changes at the time of marriage are elective, that neither party is required to change surnames, and that nothing in this section prevents either party to the marriage from later adopting a different surname through the court name change process specified in RCW 4.24.130. Limits the surnames that may be elected under this section to: The surname of the other party; any former surname of either party; a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of either party; or a combination name separated by a hyphen or space, provided that each party of the combination surname is the premarriage surname or the former surname of either party.