Name change in real life!

I had a wondrous time when applying for New Zealand residency which depended on a close family link. At birth absentdaughter was registered as GB, while I still had double identities as LD and LB. When she was about ten I divorced her father and reverted to LD all the time. She went off to New Zealand and got married, becoming GK. Later she divorced her husband and legally changed her first name to EK. Then she married again to become ER (not royal). To convince the immigration authorities that we had a close family tie –from LD to EK – took quite a lot of bits of paper.

I did the same when I left my first husband. I didn't want him and I didn't want his name either!

I felt so much freedom when I changed my name. It was like I'd stopped being his property or an extension of him and become a person in my own right again.

I changed back to my maiden name in 1991, I did it using a solicitor while getting a divorce, it wasn't deed poll I just had it witnessed, I have never had any problems or any regrets

That firm I linked to goes on to say that they have only a couple of clients who bothered to register the deed poll with the Court.

"In England and Wales, a Deed Poll may voluntarily be registered in the Central Office of the High Court. This means that the name change would also be advertised in the London Gazette. Registration of Deed Poll paperwork is regulated by the Enrolment of Deeds (Change of Name) Regulations 1994, Statutory Instrument 1994 No. 604.

However, it is absolutely not a legal requirement. We have only ever had a couple of clients who have opted to enrol their Deed Poll."

It sounds as though it is best to get some extra copies of the deed poll for sending to passport office, banks etc. Unless you want to risk sending the original one

This link explains why you don't have to register a change of name deed.

https://deedpolloffice.com/changing-your-name/changing-your-title

DD says she has just opened a savings account in her maiden name, using her birth cert.
Perhaps DD could close her account and opened one else where kitty

I sent jings link to DD who has said that the posh looking cert. counts for nothing if it's not registered.
NanaDenise says this isn't so. I am very confused !

Ana yes, of course. But still- best for next of kin to have all the relevant paperwork. In the case I mentioned which cause so much Angst for relatives, the person had changed to a new chosen name altogether, and none of the paperwork tallied.

Having changed, I have had to keep my ancient passport as proof that I did, as it has both names on....the only proof.

Alie it was certainly fine to do it like that in the 60s when I worked in a bank but, like I said, that was the dark ages or at least when the world was still in black and white!

Although if a woman reverts back to her maiden name by deed poll it will be the same on her birth certificate, so no problem.

Surely for passports, etc, you have to do it by deedpoll. And I can understand for banks too, in case of litigation, for instance dividing of assets in divorce, etc.

A word of warning though- many countries do not have the possibility of changing name my deed-poll- and once married, even divorced, you can't go back or change. If ever you do this, make sure close relatives and your will executor have copies and all the relevant information- in case anything happens abroad. Or it can leave relatives dealing with the police and legal system in real difficulty if the name on the passport and official documents does not match birth certificate, etc.

Name!!
Now I want to go to my maiden name but seems more difficult....I keep putting it off.

I changed my mane this way in the 70s kitty BUT that was in Scotland. Certainly was legal there then.

Thank you all. I thought that one could call oneself anything and it counted because of common usage. Stuck in the dark ages me!!

My GD1's mother changed her name and her children's name by deed poll quite easily.

Two of my GDs changed their surname by deed poll. They did it on line without any difficulty and used the printed form to change their passports, driving licenses etc. with no difficulty. There are several companies that do it if you Google it.

Looks like it's only fifteen quid and you can do it online

I always thought it was only Christian names you can change without doing legal stuff. A surname needed deed poll. Even then, it's safer to do the first name properly. You can understand it. Names are so important. You can't have chopping and changing without any legal evidence.

I think you are right Absent my DS has always called himself by my second husbands surname. It was never changed legally (by deed poll or by adoption). He has everything passport, bank, medical records in the "new" name and even his children, my DGC have this "new" name (or rather the one that does not appear on his birth certificate). No need to change by deed poll.

It always used to be that you could legally use any surname you like as long as it is without fraudulent intent – even one that is neither your maiden nor married name. I used both my maiden name because that's how I was always known professionally and my married name (first husband) until our divorce, then reverted to my maiden name for everything. I did not change my name when I married for the second time but as far as I know I am quite entitled to call my self Mrs Thing if I want to. It was not necessary to pay for a deed poll change but the law may have changed in the intervening years.

I have just googled this and it would appear to be very cheap.
I didn't read in detail but many firms say it is "government accepted ". I seem to remember in the past notices being published in newspapers , this must have changed if the ads are to be believed.

I always thought that as long as you didn't intend to use the name change for fraudulent purposes that you could call yourself any name you want.

DD is saving up to do it by deed poll She is already using her maiden name when she can.