Name change for Signer - New Digital Certificate required?

[Brooke]

I recently changed my name to my married name. I am a Signer in PEXA and tried to update my name in PEXA so that I am signing under my current married name but was told I need to purchase a new digital certificate before I can do this.

At every other agency, authority, etc I have provided a copy of my marriage certificate and my name has been updated at no cost. Is what I was told for PEXA correct?

It is inconvenient as in the meantime, I can't sign any PEXA documents given that my name in PEXA no longer matches my name on the roll of legal practitioners (I changed that first thinking the PEXA change would be much simpler and quicker later on - I was wrong). It also seems inherently discriminatory as the policy of requiring a new digital certificate to be purchased will likely affect female solicitors and conveyancers more so than male solicitors and conveyancers given that women are more likely to change their name following marriage than men. I haven't seen any PEXA information published warning practitioners about this issue. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you

[lisadowie · Accepted solution]

Hi @Brooke,

Thank you for raising this issue.  What you have been advised is correct.  The business rules ensure the security and integrity of the system/network are imperative. This includes the digital certificate policy that complies with the gatekeeper framework. Having the details of the name in PEXA matching the details on the digital certificate (including the token where relevant) ensure that the community of interest is secure.  

 I appreciate your frustration in a progressive world, however, it is imperative that we continue to maintain the security/integrity of the network noted above.  I also acknowledge your feedback and I will be happy to champion this back to our provider of these digital certificates . In the meantime we will contact you directly to see how we can help you through this current scenario.

Lisa Dowie

PEXA, Chief Customer Officer