passport and name change

[lauragreen1]

hiya. i gat married next may and me and my partner are planning on going back to florida for are honeymoon. Do i need to change my name on my passport before we go or is it ok while we will have just been married?

[sandyRoe]

If you don't change it make sure that your flights are booked in your maiden name.

[lauragreen1]

oh ok thats great thanks

[Cathyhuns]

Your passport and ticket MUST show the same name and you cannot change the name on your passport without a legal document saying why it is acceptable, usually your marriage licence. However you do not get your marriage licence until you are married.

Therefore the simplest thing is to book your tickets in your maiden name and travel on that name. You can then leave your passport as it is until it is next time to change it, remembering to book tickets in your maiden name, or pay the money and have your passport changed once you get home.

[bushbaby_de]

Hi Laura,

it is entirely up to you whether or not you change your name on your passport. You can still travel in your maiden name so long as all flights, hotels etc are booked in your maiden name as well.

If it is important to you to have your passport in your married name, you can apply to change the name up to 3 months before you marry. There is a form that must be completed by the person who will be performing the ceremony. Look at the passport service website.

[KARL]

As already pointed out, you are who you are and there is absolutely no need for you to call yourself by someone else's name - you can remain who you were born as to your dying day no matter how many times you marry (or not). By far the simplest thing to do is to leave well enough alone and not change names - unless you don't like your name or want to hide a past. So long as you don't pretend to be someone you are officially not, then everything is above board and dandy. If you officially become someone else then (similarly) you must not say you are who you were. You are who you were born as and will additionally be married (but still who you were until you officially declare a different identity). The official identity at any time is what matters and you must not masquerade (for example when a passenger) as someone else. The Mrs. sobriquet is a sop to male vanity and old norms that is permissible by law - a convention, not a requirement.