Changing Surname by Deed Pole

[muchlovex]

I changed my surname via deed pole to double-barrelled which included my surname and my partners surname.

Deed poll forms were not signed when received.

I know would like to change my surname to my partners name, as it'#s much too complicated by it being double-barrelled.

Would my partner be required to change their surname, we want to keep her surname?

Sorry if this q's abit confusing.

[boxtops]

I don't think so, if it's her name already - is she double barrelled too?

[Buenchico]

Unlike in many other countries, anyone in the UK is free to use whatever name they like, when they like. (That obviously excludes fraudulent activity, such as pretending to be someone else in order to cash a cheque in their name). There's no need for any deed polls. You can be Freda Smith on Monday mornings, Harry Fitzwilliam on Monday afternoons, Iggle-piggle-poodle-twinkie on all other weekdays, and His High Worthiness Prince Muzzelheimer the Fifteenth at weekends. It's all perfectly legal.

Obviously 'officialdom' likes you to to have one 'real' name (e.g. on your passport and bank accounts), so it's useful to have a formal way of changing your name (i.e. by deed poll) but there's no legal necessity for it.

Also (unlike in some other countries), there's no requirement for a married person to take their partner's surname. So there's certainly no need for one partner in any relationship to make changes to their own name in order to match that of their partner.

You can both use whatever names you choose. If those names are different to how you're currently known on your passports, at your banks and at other places that like you to have an 'official' name, then it would probably simplify things considerably if you used fresh deed polls but, as stated above, they're not a legal necessity.

Chris

[rowanwitch]

if the deed polls weren't signed and witnessed they are not valid

[boxtops]

When I remarried I changed to my new name (as Chris suggests) for the important things - passport, car insurance, medical records - but for everything else to do with work and finance I kept my previous name. The tax office said they didn't care what I called myself as long as I knew my NI number.

[TheTruthHere]

Chris can i use another name on the census form ?

If i am not breaking any law i might fill it in , regards Joe Bloggs

[pretty_snowdrop]

Buenchico is 100% correct. You can call yourself whatever you choose as long as it isn't used for fraudulent purposes. As banks go you may initially need to show id in a specific name to actually open the account . Once it is open you can change it to whatever name you choose.

[Buenchico]

An interesting question, TTH.

While Schedule 1 of the Census Act 1920 gives the Government statisticians the right to demand your name, it makes no reference to the definition of 'name'. It's an offence to give false information but it would be hard for the CPS to prove that the use of an 'unofficial' name was, in itself, false information.

It's probably one of those things which would need a test case to come up with a precise legal ruling, but my view is that using a different name is not unlawful.

Chris

[TheTruthHere]

Chris any chance of you filling yours in with a false name and letting us know how you go on the i might fill mine in , regards Fred Turner :)