Changing Name by Deed Poll

Originally Posted by Baph

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.

Originally Posted by Filipe M.

Hmm... How about Keira Knight-Lee?







Taxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Um, the taxi is already here, ready and waiting. I though that comment would have arrived sooner.

Originally Posted by K

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

Originally Posted by Fearg

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.

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? 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 (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

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!"

Originally Posted by Baph

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

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.

Originally Posted by Fearg

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.

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"

Originally Posted by Baph

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

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? (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* )

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!!