View Full Version : Changing Name by Deed Poll
I need to change my name before i get married, as I'll be adopting my fiancee's surname and double barrelling it with mine :cool: (her family name will die out otherwise :smt054).
It's easier for me to change my name now so the new double surname will be on the marriage certificate, that way she won't have to Deed Poll her name after we're married.
So does anyone know anything about how you actually go about it, how much it costs, will I have any problems with the bank, my passport, driving licence etc etc?
I've googled it extensively but I'd kind of like to hear from someone with some personal experience, as the websites naturally paint a rosy picture of hassle-free perfection, and I don't believe in it.
Oh, BTW, I'm getting married :rolleyes:
You can do it online for about £25.
You'll then need to inform the usual suspects: DVLA, Tax, etc etc.
Got my DVLA one doen for free as I was transferring from a paper based card to a photo one at the same time. Otherwise I *think* that was £25-ish also.
Biggest problem I had was with my bank as they kept updating their system then sending me a cash card in the wrong name (took 17 attempts to get the correct name on the card).
You'll have loads of fun attempting to pay for stuff & putting your wrong name down.
you can do it for free through the citizins advice bureau thats what i did when i seperated from my husband.
Congratulations :D
Thanks Kinvig and Tara - I thought it would be a long shot asking if anyone had any personal experience - didn't realise so many people would have changed their names!
I'll give CAB a ring and see if they can help then... free stuff is good. :cheers:
Congrats...
... and perfect timing - I was thinking about asking the same question - just not for the same reasons. ;)
I promised to change my surname to my Nan's maiden one after her death as she was the last 'Knight'. The name meant alot to her father, and as she was an only daughter it was 'lost' when she married - and would be gone completely after she died kinda thing.
It's as good an opportunity as any to change my christian and middle name too... just having trouble settling on something I really like that also won't upset the parents too much.:rolleyes:
Congrats...
... and perfect timing - I was thinking about asking the same question - just not for the same reasons. ;)
I promised to change my surname to my Nan's maiden one after her death as she was the last 'Knight'. The name meant alot to her father, and as she was an only daughter it was 'lost' when she married - and would be gone completely after she died kinda thing.
It's as good an opportunity as any to change my christian and middle name too... just having trouble settling on something I really like that also won't upset the parents too much.:rolleyes:
How about..
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The Mystic....
Black (deep purple)
Sorry K!:smt043
you can do it for free through the citizins advice bureau thats what i did when i seperated from my husband.
Congratulations :D
T, that only applies in the case of marital seperation.
You can do it online for about £25.
Can you? Blimey! It's got cheaper since I did it. I did it online & paid £60.
So does anyone know anything about how you actually go about it, how much it costs, will I have any problems with the bank, my passport, driving licence etc etc?
I've googled it extensively but I'd kind of like to hear from someone with some personal experience, as the websites naturally paint a rosy picture of hassle-free perfection, and I don't believe in it.
Oh, BTW, I'm getting married :rolleyes:
Firstly, congratulations.
Secondly, I changed my surname about 2-3 years back. We weren't married, and lil nipper on the way, kids from a previous relationship, so we wanted them all to have the same surname. Either change the other kids surname to match me, or mine to there's. The latter is what we did.
From what I remember, it was pretty simple stuff.
A case of filling in the form online, get one posted to you for someone to validate (we got the midwife to do that). Sending off with payment, and you get a wax sealed document back. Done. It's now apparently illegal for me to refer to myself as my former name (eg, to Police). Nifty.
One tip, fork out for at least 5 "legal copies" and only ever send out 3, always have 2 in your hand! That way, you can write off to three companies (eg, Bank, DVLA & Tax man) & you still have legal copies back. Each copy costs you £10. The folks at Deed Poll send you a list of everyone that you'll need to notify, so it's just a matter of working your way through that list. A couple of companies didn't want to send the documents back, and required legal copies sending to them (not everyone does, some will accept photocopies). That was a bit of a pain, but after calling to complain & following up with a letter, someone must of said Abracadabra & pulled my forms from thin air, because they appeared when I'd been told they'd been sent months before.
Other than companies not sending the legal copies back, or wanting to charge an "admin fee" for changing your name on their system, it was hassle free. If anyone does want to charge you a fee, just politely explain the Data Protection Act and the fact that they have a legal duty to keep data accurate. They're also not allowed to charge you for helping them keep data accurate.
Deed Poll name changes also have the advantage that if there's anyone that you want to loose contact with, you can reply "sorry, there's no-one by that name at this address, please amend your records accordingly, you have 28 days, fail to do so & we'll slap you with DPA as well!"
Good luck with it, any questions along the way, feel free to drop me a PM.
How about..
Dark
Mid
Cold
Windy....
The Mystic....
Sorry K!:smt043
:mrgreen:
But it does illustrate my problem well enough.:rolleyes:
My current surname is 'Lee' - so double barrelling it to Knight-Lee just means anything is going to sound like a cheap porn-star.:smt022
The fact that my favourite christian name ever was from an obscure set of pulp detective novels - there was a female P.I. called 'September'...
... September Knight has a nice theatrical ring to it, but certainly makes me sound like I had degenerate hippies for parents!:p (Which they certainly aren't/weren't.;) )
A woman can take the male surname at marriage and "barrel" it, why can't you do so the other way around. It shouldnt cost you, speak to the registrar.
Congrats.
T, that only applies in the case of marital seperation.
Can you? Blimey! It's got cheaper since I did it. I did it online & paid £60.
Firstly, congratulations.
Secondly, I changed my surname about 2-3 years back. We weren't married, and lil nipper on the way, kids from a previous relationship, so we wanted them all to have the same surname. Either change the other kids surname to match me, or mine to there's. The latter is what we did.
From what I remember, it was pretty simple stuff.
A case of filling in the form online, get one posted to you for someone to validate (we got the midwife to do that). Sending off with payment, and you get a wax sealed document back. Done. It's now apparently illegal for me to refer to myself as my former name (eg, to Police). Nifty.
One tip, fork out for at least 5 "legal copies" and only ever send out 3, always have 2 in your hand! That way, you can write off to three companies (eg, Bank, DVLA & Tax man) & you still have legal copies back. Each copy costs you £10. The folks at Deed Poll send you a list of everyone that you'll need to notify, so it's just a matter of working your way through that list. A couple of companies didn't want to send the documents back, and required legal copies sending to them (not everyone does, some will accept photocopies). That was a bit of a pain, but after calling to complain & following up with a letter, someone must of said Abracadabra & pulled my forms from thin air, because they appeared when I'd been told they'd been sent months before.
Other than companies not sending the legal copies back, or wanting to charge an "admin fee" for changing your name on their system, it was hassle free. If anyone does want to charge you a fee, just politely explain the Data Protection Act and the fact that they have a legal duty to keep data accurate. They're also not allowed to charge you for helping them keep data accurate.
Deed Poll name changes also have the advantage that if there's anyone that you want to loose contact with, you can reply "sorry, there's no-one by that name at this address, please amend your records accordingly, you have 28 days, fail to do so & we'll slap you with DPA as well!"
Good luck with it, any questions along the way, feel free to drop me a PM.
Cheers Baph, great info... that's the sort of thing I'm after.
:mrgreen:
But it does illustrate my problem well enough.:rolleyes:
My current surname is 'Lee' - so double barrelling it to Knight-Lee just means anything is going to sound like a cheap porn-star.:smt022
The fact that my favourite christian name ever was from an obscure set of pulp detective novels - there was a female P.I. called 'September'...
... September Knight has a nice theatrical ring to it, but certainly makes me sound like I had degenerate hippies for parents!:p (Which they certainly aren't/weren't.;) )
How about 'September Knightley' (for added spice, add the middle name 'Thrice')
A woman can take the male surname at marriage and "barrel" it, why can't you do so the other way around. It shouldnt cost you, speak to the registrar.
Congrats.
I don't know why you can't do it, but all the information says that whilst it's legally acceptable for a woman to change her name to her husbands with no problem and nothing other than a marriage certificate, to double-barrel and become fully legal (ie passport, taxes, electoral register etc) you'd both need a Deed Poll, unless husband changes name first. Stupid rules, but that's the way it is apparently.
Oh yeah if you're sending off licence to DVLA, take a copy of it and what entitlements you have on it. Just in case they decide you dont have a full bike licence as has been known to happen :rolleyes:
Oh yeah if you're sending off licence to DVLA, take a copy of it and what entitlements you have on it. Just in case they decide you dont have a full bike licence as has been known to happen :rolleyes:
True enough.
Just don't complain if they add entitlements, like they did to mine :D
T, that only applies in the case of marital seperation.
Really? sorry about that didn't realise
How about..
Dark
Mid
Cold
Windy....
The Mystic....
Black (deep purple)
Sorry K!:smt043
Or "Twicer-" ;)
How long does the whole process normally take?
My passport needs renewing (before I toddle off to the Nurburgring again in July) and I figure it would be better to get the whole name change thing done beforehand.
How about 'September Knightley' (for added spice, add the middle name 'Thrice')
Hmmm, back to sounding like a hooker/porn star aren't we?! ;)
I was had thought of keeping 'Lee' as my middle name... but then my brother reproduced - so there is a continuation of that surname and now I don't feel quite so obliged to retain it.
It's the christian name that's really the sticking point - regardless of middle name (if indeed I choose to keep one)... I was kinda named for my Nan with a variation of Kathleen (her name), but the surname is gonna be that connection.
So, after having my parents change my birthname when they adopted me (which was Michelle - yerch - no way) I'd sort of like 'my own' name.
Does anyone actualy get what I mean?:smt102
Or "Twicer-" ;)
:rolleyes:
That's definately into two-bit hooker territory.
I'm heading for a slap on the wrist for U-rating contravention soon - but it's not my fault Guv, it's them big boys sir.
Filipe M.
04-04-07, 11:36 AM
Hmm... How about Keira Knight-Lee?
Taxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
How long does the whole process normally take?
It took me about 2 weeks to get the Deed Poll documents sorted, then about another 3 months after that to sort out all the fiddly little companies with no customer services (like the Passport folks)! :)
Fizzy Fish
04-04-07, 11:49 AM
One tip, fork out for at least 5 "legal copies" and only ever send out 3, always have 2 in your hand! That way, you can write off to three companies (eg, Bank, DVLA & Tax man) & you still have legal copies back.
very good advice there - when i got married i found that everyone under the sun seemed to want to see the official certification, but funnily enough several of them didn't bother sending the certificate back to me. And then you lose track of who hadn't returned one to chase it up, etc
It took me about 2 weeks to get the Deed Poll documents sorted, then about another 3 months after that to sort out all the fiddly little companies with no customer services (like the Passport folks)! :)
Hmmm, so either start now or fork out extra to sort it all out later after I've got a passport in my 'current' name. Meh.
Hmm... How about Keira Knight-Lee?
Taxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Um, the taxi is already here, ready and waiting. I though that comment would have arrived sooner.:rolleyes:
Hmmm, so either start now or fork out extra to sort it all out later after I've got a passport in my 'current' name. Meh.
If you only have the one trip abroad planned, you could get away with travelling under your old name.
But take a legal copy of the Deed Poll with you, just in case someone starts asking questions at customs. I doubt they will with it being all EU travel, but you never know.
Your passport and Deed Poll document clearly & legally link your photograph to your real name. However, be aware that your driving licence number & passport number will both change when you change your surname. Driving licence number isn't affected by first name change only though.
Does it need to be a deed poll?
I seem to remember that there are three ways to change your name depending on various factors.
You can just put an annoucement in a local paper
You can have a change of name deed or..
You can go for the full deed poll.
I don't know about costs but when I did mine I just got a change of name deed not a deed poll and have never had any problems.
At the end of the day it doesn't take away your responsibility for your previous names it just legally says you are now known as ...........
HTH
Does it need to be a deed poll?
I seem to remember that there are three ways to change your name depending on various factors.
You can just put an annoucement in a local paper
You can have a change of name deed or..
You can go for the full deed poll.
I don't know about costs but when I did mine I just got a change of name deed not a deed poll and have never had any problems.
At the end of the day it doesn't take away your responsibility for your previous names it just legally says you are now known as ...........
HTH
As far as I remember, paper annoucncements only count for middle names or title changes (eg, if you are a Dr but don't want to be called "Dr" any more) if you only put an annoucement in the paper.
Deed Poll (what you call full deed poll) deals with any legal change concerning only one party. It's a way to ensure that you do something by strictly applying certain laws to yourself.
Change of Name Deed Poll is just a specific Deed Poll, because it only concerns you directly, even though you have to let other people know.
Also, as I previously said, it's now illegal for me to refer to myself as my previous surname. The Deed Poll means that I'm not allowed to, to anyone. However, it does allow for the circumstance that other people might need to know my former name for security reasons when changing their records.
Yes the Deed Poll states "formerly known as" but that's all you're allowed to say. Once relevant parties have been informed, you're relieved of all relevance of your previous surname.
Yes, it peev'd my folks off me doing it, but I have a brother, so it's not like the name is dying out. They also came around to understand why once they'd sat down & thought about it.
ArtyLady
04-04-07, 12:54 PM
I changed my surname to that of my OH when I was pregnant with our first child, so we all would have the same surname.
I went to a solicitor and he wrote up a deed. He then found out that they had just scrapped the obligatory stamping and registering (that was in 1986ish) So - clipped to my deed is his letter stating this.
The other day, I had one my little wobblies, (is it still valid? I am I still offically known by this name? :rolleyes: etc) and succumbed to the compulsion to check it out. I phoned the relevant authority, asked to speak to the Deed Poll dept. Glad I did - she said not to let my passport run out as they are planning to tighten things right up again (due to the current climate), so that now my deed (although still ok for certain formalities) because its not registered would no longer be accepted if I need to apply for a passport, or if I decided to get married :shock: (good job I dont plan too!), Id have to get the deed offically registered through them (or summat like that)
HTH
need2ride, same reason as I changed my name :) I didn't half get some odd reactions when I was telling people I was changing my surname to that of my partner's ex :lol:
If I remember right, it's a nominal charge only to get an older style deed registered on the DB, and then again, £10 per copy for the legally certified ones.
Good luck with it :)
As someone else said in this forum, a fair few people on the org have changed names. I swear this place is a secret society, everytime anyone has a random query, a dozen or so people step forward with a "yep, done that!"
As far as I remember, paper annoucncements only count for middle names or title changes (eg, if you are a Dr but don't want to be called "Dr" any more) if you only put an annoucement in the paper.
Deed Poll (what you call full deed poll) deals with any legal change concerning only one party. It's a way to ensure that you do something by strictly applying certain laws to yourself.
Change of Name Deed Poll is just a specific Deed Poll, because it only concerns you directly, even though you have to let other people know.
Also, as I previously said, it's now illegal for me to refer to myself as my previous surname. The Deed Poll means that I'm not allowed to, to anyone. However, it does allow for the circumstance that other people might need to know my former name for security reasons when changing their records.
Yes the Deed Poll states "formerly known as" but that's all you're allowed to say. Once relevant parties have been informed, you're relieved of all relevance of your previous surname.
Yes, it peev'd my folks off me doing it, but I have a brother, so it's not like the name is dying out. They also came around to understand why once they'd sat down & thought about it.
Yeah I understand what you're saying (at least I think I do :) ). It may have all changed since I did mine 13 years ago but knowing the British legal system probably not a lot! My solicitor told me about the 3 options and the general pro's and cons. In my case at the time it came down to cost versus sufficient legal documentation for things like banks and passports. The Deed Poll was too expensive for me and I can't remember the benfits of it. The Deed was much cheaper and was adequate for me. I had 3 copies and only know where one is now ](*,) I have not had any problems since and this document has always been sufficient. It was my surname that changed for family reasons but I did it after I was married to my now ex-wife and she just assumed the same name with no documentation and to my knowledge has never had any problems either. Although she has re-married since so thankfully doesn't use my name in vain anymore :D
The only point I was trying to make about the formerly known as is, that you are still legally responsible for your actions under that name prior to changing. So if you change your name from Smiff to Bloggs any credit agreements or utility bills etc that you may try to run away from in the name of Smiff are still your responsibility. This is regardless of what you call yourself currently. Hope that makes a bit more sense.
:-D
The only point I was trying to make about the formerly known as is, that you are still legally responsible for your actions under that name prior to changing. So if you change your name from Smiff to Bloggs any credit agreements or utility bills etc that you may try to run away from in the name of Smiff are still your responsibility. This is regardless of what you call yourself currently. Hope that makes a bit more sense.
:-D
That's true, any contracts under your previous name have responsability automatically transferred to your new name, even though you have to get in touch with the company the contract is with.
Anyone that you don't have a legally binding contract with however, is a different story :) I found it handy to literally drop off the radar for all junk mail etc :) A LOT got sent back with "Not at this address" :)
ArtyLady
04-04-07, 01:11 PM
need2ride, same reason as I changed my name :) I didn't half get some odd reactions when I was telling people I was changing my surname to that of my partner's ex :lol:
If I remember right, it's a nominal charge only to get an older style deed registered on the DB, and then again, £10 per copy for the legally certified ones.
Good luck with it :)
As someone else said in this forum, a fair few people on the org have changed names. I swear this place is a secret society, everytime anyone has a random query, a dozen or so people step forward with a "yep, done that!"
I got odd reactions too, like I was a bit strange, like why didnt I just marry him if I wanted his name? :confused: (not my style - and he is a divorcee, once bitten and all that) We just felt it was more practical. We always have the last laugh though, weve been together now for 23 years (song coming on - *and it dont seem a day too long* :smt034 :smt054;) :-D )
The other thing she said was that if I wanted to change my name back to my maiden name, I would have to get the other deed properly registered before that!!:rolleyes:
Red ones
04-04-07, 03:55 PM
I changed my name 5 and a half years ago - I too took on the OH name and made it double barrelled.
You can change your name through common usage:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family/change_of_name.htm
There is no compulsion to do it through deed poll. I would say save yourself the £25 and do it through common usage.
The important bit is to not look to be trying to defraud.
You can literally tell your friends you want to take on the new name, then you can ask the bank to change their records etc. The passport was the easiest bit! You can walk into the passport office and say you want to change your name - it may be worth phoning them first to check what evidence they accept. The DVLA were also straight forward - it is done on the standard D1 form. You do not need to worry too much about Bank Account and pay slips / DDs etc as teh banks ID accounts by the account number not teh name on teh account, therefore if you employer takes longer to change your name than teh bank, you will still get paid!!
BTW - the longest change for me to effect? My mother! She still gets it wrong.
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