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Your legal name is...?

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Rosina Sun 09-Dec-18 10:10:53

'Not sure if 'Ask a Gran' is the correct thread for this - perhaps there is a legally trained Gran out there who has the answer. We had no answer to what a married woman's legal name is. If you choose to retain your single name, as many do, that presumably has to be legal as you are changing nothing. If you choose to use your husband's name, apart from notifying various organisations that you are now going to be called Mrs. Smith instead of Miss Brown, that is legal too. However, the register is signed with the woman's single name, although she will have gone through a marriage ceremony.
If you choose to change your name you need to do this by Deed Poll for it to be officially recognised for entering exams, obtaining mortgages etc. Also, it is acceptable to change your name without any official input as long as you use your legal name for official purposes. We went round in circles for some time - does anybody know how this works?

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rizlett Sun 09-Dec-18 19:48:11

Anyone may change any of their names at any point in time to whatever they choose. {as long as it isn't anything offensive}

It is actually free to do although some people prefer to pay thinking they are getting a better service but it's all pretty much the same. It's just a question of notifying the appropriate organisations of your change of name. With this link you can change your name and print off as many documents to be witnessed as you like. I donated the fee that most places charge to charity instead.

freedeedpoll.org.uk

I've changed my surname this way and also removed my first christian name as I hated it so much. I now get lots of comments about how nice my name is.

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JaneJANE60 Mon 10-Dec-18 17:56:08

Thank you all for your responses and advice. smile

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