Changing Name by Deed Poll

[Red ones]

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/...ge_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.