proof of name change

felixculpa

Hi. probably in totally the wrong place but I am going barmy trying to prove who I am for the passport office.I grew up using my stepfathers surname but my birth certificate shows my biological fathers surname. And when I married I used my stepfathers name as my maiden name and noone queried it.Now however the passport office are demanded that I show proof of change of name between the two names. Spoke to one solicitor who said all I need is a letter stating that I have used all three surnames and it just needs to be signed by a solicitor. Another one tells me that they need to draw up a formal document which in turn needs to be witnessed by yet another solicitor all at a huge cost just to prove I'm me. Rung passport office to ask which is correct and the answer given was "I don't know I'm not a solicitor."?! and even suggested that I get my birth certificate changed. All other avenues (i.e. deed poll) seem to lead to me changing my name as it is now which I don't want to do So any one any ideas or am I getting a wet weekend in Skeggy for my hols this year?

Melonade

Hmm not sure about this one.

My birth certificate has my Mums surname on it but as I was brought up with my Dad I always used his surname. I had trouble opening a bank account about 10 years ago because my only form of ID were a birth certificate and passport (using my Mums surname) I ended up getting a name change done through a solicitor which cost me roughly £100!!

So I'm not sure how I'd go about getting a passport either but I'm hoping the name change deed thingy might be enough. We've had problems in the past when my plane ticket was booked in one name and my passport was in another... only finding out while checking in for the flight and having to pay £150 to put it right befor they let me on the plane.

I really think you might end up having to get a proper deed poll name change tbh, I hope you get it sorted though and end up having a lovely holiday :cool:

Aimless

Not exactly the same situation, but I changed my child's name by statutory declaration, and this was accepted by the Passport Office. I don't think deed poll would work, as you don't want to change your current name? As a declaration is fairly cheap, I'd be inclined to try that first. Have one drawn up that says you relinquished your old name as of X date, and up to the date of marriage only used X name. As the Passport Office can't tell you what they need, you might find this is enough? Obviously i'm not a solicitor though.

dizziblonde

In order to prevent this when I was growing up and decided I wanted the same surname as the rest of my family (see the related thread on diff surnames for that one) - my mum made sure she put mine through the court back then as a court order to change it... it's also on my marriage certificate (at the registrar's suggestion) X formerly known as Y to firm up the paper trail between names (I work as a supply teacher so have to prove my identity constantly so wanted it kept crystal clear). Was sufficient to get through the passport office when I renewed after getting married.

Not much help to the present situation - but that's how mine's been done over the course of my life and childhood.

I hear Skeggy's nice this time of year. . .

mazza111

A deed poll could still be used. I paid about £10 for mine a few years ago. You could probably find the right wording on the net to do it. Or a declaration being the same. I once was John Smith, I grew up as John Jones and have used this name since I was umpteen years old. I think mine had to be witnessed by someone, social work were involved with my parents care at the time, and I got it signed by one of them.

Mojisola

Is this any help - https://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/relationships_e/relationships_birth_certificates_and_changing_your_name_e/change_of_name.htm

felixculpa

Thanks guys. I looked into the deed poll and still confused as to if that can help as the wording on the ones I've looked at is to change my name as it is now. If I'd never been married it wouldnt be a problem cos I could just change it to my stepdads. Thing is this must happen quite often and u would think the passport office would have a set method of dealing with it. Any way gonna harrass another solicitor this morning and see if I get even more differing advice!:p

vintagebrighton

I was in a similar situation. I bizarrely had to change my name back to my own maiden name to get my passport - nothing but a deed poll by a solicitor was acceptable to the passport office. I decided rather than argue I'd just pay up and do it. No problems since then though

felixculpa

I did think about it but i dont want to change my name and see no reason why I should have to! I used my stepfathers surname althrough my childhood and it is (was) legally my name until I got married. There was no query about it then. Anyway just spoke to another solicitor and he suggested I do a statutory declaration of a name change for which he would charge the fee of £250 - £300. Needless to say it was a very short conversation!

RAS

felixculpa wrote: »

I used my stepfathers surname althrough my childhood and it is (was) legally my name until I got married. There was no query about it then.

This is the nub of the problem.

Although it was not illegal for you to use your step-father's name, your legal name prior to marriage was the one on your birth certificate, not your SF name.

Until you recognise that, you are not going to ask the right questions.

felixculpa

So why did the registrar not query it when I married? As far as I am aware the fact that I had used the name for a long period of time did make it legally mine. Plus also as a minor (and I'm talking baby) its not as if I had much choice in the matter. Also not aware in fact that my stepfather was not my actual biological father until he died. I had never seen my birth certificate until I was 18.