Changing Name after Divorce

diable

Maybe my advice was slightly wrong and I suppose it may have been because my girlfriend wasn't born in this country. ooops

kittykat100

Thanks eveyone for your advice... I haven't decided what to do yet as professionally and personally everyone knows me as my married name ( I got married just after moving to where I live now). I have never been fond of my maiden name either and always preferred my married one!! choices choices... sigh...

Kittyx

moon1970

Hi

Looking for advice, I am now divorced and would like to change my name back to my maidan name, is this easily done?

Also, do you think it will make difference to my son who will still have his fathers surname?

If go back to my maiden name do I become a Ms. or can I choose Miss?

Thanks for any answers

Buddingblonde

It is up to you what you call yourself - you can do it by contacting agencies and letting them know your preferred name - you do not have to do it legally if you do not want to.

Why not ask your son what he thinks about having a different name from his mummy? I know that for me personally if I had kids I would want them to have the same name as me. A friend of mine got round this when she divorced by making her name double barrelled with her ex's name so that her kids have part of the same name.

true27

I changed back to my maiden name after divorcing DB's dad - DB kept his dad's name and thinks it makes us unique to have different names! (He's 9, but was 6 when this happened).

While you can just revert to your maiden name by informing people, I did find it much easier to have a Change of Name Deed to present to them. If you speak to the solicitor that did your divorce for you they should be able to sort this out, it takes about 5 minutes and doesn't cost the world.

HTH xx

daska

It used to be as simple as just letting everyone know you were changing your name - law of common usage? - but I now have bank accounts where they refuse to change my name without a deed poll. There's no legal requirement for this but the money laundering regs have all the financial institutions in a paddy and we're the ones who end up worse off.

myalphabetgirls

Following divorce 5 years ago I changed my name back to my maiden name by change of name deed (formerly known as deed poll). It cost around £40 I think and my solicitor gave me 6 certified copies.

I know UK passport legislation has changed a bit recently but this simple document saved all the hassle. Once your passport has been changed you are rarely asked to provide a copy of the change of name deed. All I would suggest is that you keep them well protected in a plastic wallet because these days most legal documents are produced on basic A4 paper rather than the old judicature paper that looked important and stood the test of time. Basic A4 copier paper can get a bit dog-eared in a short time especially when you are passing it around companies as your proof.

I have since remarried anyway, but I dont regret the small fee involved (I appreciate it may have gone up a bit but to be honest i feel it is worth it).

My two eldest children have had different surnames to me during my first marriage and now my second and they have accepted it without question. It is the way it is! They are both in further education now and neither appear to be traumatised by their surname being different. In the grand scheme of things it is quite unimportant (unless I guess you are royalty).

Just my two-penneth... hope it helps.

moon1970

Thanks for this info. Is it ok to be called Miss again or do I have to be a Ms

MarsdenCuckoo

You don't actually need a solicitor to change your name by deed poll any more; you can just do it yourself by ordering the deed over the internet. Can't remember the web address but sure a simple google search will bring it up. The deed arrives, already completed and sealed; just needs signing, witnessing and "Hey Presto, Job Done!"

A while ago Watchdog covered how easy it was to get your passport changed via that route - seem to recall someone changed their name 28 times in a very short space of time!

As others have said, you can just revert to being known by your maiden name by letting people know i.e. with a simple letter. Legally, however, for tax, banking, identity purposes you do need the deed.

daska

Legally you don't need a deed poll. The only reason for it is that some organisations will no longer accept a statement confirming the change of name, even though legally it is sufficient.

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And I think I'll just point out that I changed my name on my passport by simply making a statement to the effect that I would henceforth be known by xyz name.