Change My Married Name

[just_George]

I've been separated 18 m and want to change my surname by deed poll so I downloaded the pdf from gov.co.uk and on notes page it says "if you are married you need the written consent of your husband" I was stunned to say the least. He choose to end our marriage against my wishes, I feel affronted that he still gets choice over what I do. Have I read this wrong?

[KARL]

A curiosity question: Given your present circumstances, would you advise any woman to keep her birth name rather than becoming an annexe to her husband ?

[hc4361]

Can you post the link you used as I refuse to believe this is the case.

[Mamyalynne]

I do know you must notify him of a name change in case any legal proceedings are due to be sent to you and you do need his permission if you wish to change the names of children.

But it should not prevent you changing your own name.

[Fitzer]

This is all you need to do to change your name via Deed Poll, I don't believe there is a Govt. PDF https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll

[hc4361]

The PDF on the Gov.uk website does indeed say the permission of the husband is needed.

[hc4361]

The guidance pdf is on this page

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/enrol-a-deed-poll-with-the-courts

[ethandron]

I bet he wouldn't need your permission to change his, if he wanted to. I thought the world had moved on since the dark ages with women's equality, obviously it hasn't. I'm appalled.

[murraymints]

is it really necessary to take deed poll action to revert to maiden name..you would be known in legal terms as ie ann smith or jones....smith being maiden name which is not a new name , your birth name remains constant... I simply reverted.....

[murraymints]

put simply you are not changing your name..but reverting

[KARL]

Ethandron, you are talking about a UK situation - the UK is internationally notoriously backward.

[jno]

except for official purposes (passports etc), and as long as you're not out to defraud anyone, you can call yourself what you like and your ex can't do anything about it. You should obviously notify people you know, but it's not a legal requirement for everyday life.

[Fitzer]

Ah! My apologies, but it does cut both ways, a husband has to get permission as well, once divorced you don't need to do the deed poll at all

[just_George]

KARL,I feel a name is very personal, I was deeply in love with my husband and proud to carry his name. I'm hurt and disappointed,thats what his name means to me now, if I have to live life on my own then I will do it with MY name,that stands for who I am.
Murrymints can you tell me a bit more about reverting that sounds like a good idea for me.

[Sycamore3House]

I reverted to my maiden name by deed poll when I divorced my husband. I felt the same about his name as you do. He no longer wanted to be married to me and I felt why should I carry his name. Best £50 odd quid I ever spent.

[KARL]

just_George, the reason I asked is because I think this to-ing and fro-ing with names, as understandable as it is given the custom, is rather unnecessary if not unhelpful. The custom well known in other countries, whereby women have the same name from cradle to grave, strikes me as more practical.

Sycamore, I heard of a divorced woman who urgently gave away her 3-piece leather suite (I know the recipients) because she couldn't bear to live with her ex-husband's Rsprint on the furniture ! That's hurt/bitterness.

[murraymints]

JG I simply stopped using married name and used maiden name..no need for any more than a letter to the bank to say as much for acct name to be changed ..when I renewed passport filled in the relevant marital status box and got new one with maiden name back...no need for deed poll, as I said I did not change my name simply reverted and dropped married one

[Baldric]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Civil/Question1547520.html

[just_George]

the problem is Murrymints, I'm not divorced only seperated. Thats what my problem is, to keep legal status as his wife but change to my family name

[clairson59]

You can change your name once you are divorced. I'm sure because a former colleague did so. She didn't have to notify her ex because she changed it to avoid contact with him. Just get your divorce processed a.s.a.p. and you can call yourself whatever you like and he has no say.