proof of name change

Melonade

RAS wrote: »

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.

Yes I agree, thats the exact reason I couldn't open my bank account years ago. Even though I had household bills and a NI number in my fathers surname it just wasn't good enough as my birth certificate and passport didn't match up to it. I could hardly believe it myself as I'd never used any other name, but the laws the law and the passport office won't take no messing unfortunatley

Aimless

£300! My son's statutory declaration cost me £5. Citizens Advice gave me the wording, and the solicitor just witnessed it. Ok it was a few years ago, but..

http://www.whichsolicitor.co.uk/NameChange.htm

This is the basic wording we used, I'd still be inclined to try this route first for the sake of a few pounds.

Melonade

felixculpa wrote: »

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.

The registrar is completely different from issuing a passport though really.

My Dad was told (I'm not 100% this is right btw) that for him to change my name to his he'd have to addopt me... which obviously he refused to do, and i don't blame him.

What I'm trying to say is circumstances of how this happened or for how long a time you've used your stepfathers names doesn't matter to the passport people. Your name on your birth certificate is different from the name you used your whole life. You don't have any proof to say it's legally right and therefor it's wrong in their eyes. If it was simple then lots of people would be able to do it and then there'd be the problems of fraud using multiple identities.

felixculpa

But I can change my name by deed poll to any name I like with no need to prove any previous names and the Passport Office will accept that! So how daft is that?

felixculpa

Anyway I am trying to get it sorted but even the passport office cant tell me how! I am trying to be a good citizen -honestly!

felixculpa

So what if I was to do a name change by deed poll from my birth name to my married name? Would that be allowed as I dont use my birth name now? And yes I do feel like I'm clutching at straws now

StumpyPumpy

felixculpa wrote: »

But I can change my name by deed poll to any name I like with no need to prove any previous names and the Passport Office will accept that! So how daft is that?

If you've changed your name at time by deed poll, when applying for a passport in this name you need to supply both your original birth certificate and the deed poll showing a continuous link between the two documents - ie the birth certificate says name 'X' the deed poll says I was name 'X' and now wish to be known by name 'Y'. You cannot get passport based on the new name on a deed poll certificate alone.

As far as I can see, the easiest way of sorting out your predicament is simply to change your name via deed poll from your "birth certificate" name to your married surname, then use this plus your birth certificate to get your new passport, instead of birth certificate plus marriage licence. The passport will look and feel exactly the same and a deed poll will cost more in the region of £25 instead of £250 if you do it online.

HTH

SP

mazza111

I think what you need is a preface to the deed poll. Something that states you were born as jane smith, your mother then brought you up with the name jane jones as it was your step father's name. You have since married and your name is now Jane Brown.

So something like:

By this Deed:
I the undersigned Jane Smith of Full address

Now lately (or since marriage) called JANE BROWN

1. For and on behalf of myself wholly renounce, relinquish and abandon the use of my former names, JANE SMITH and JANE JONES and I will from the date hereof be called, known and distinguished not by my former name(s) of JANE SMITH and JANE JONES but my assumed name of JANE BROWN.

2, For the purpose of evidencing such by determination declare that I shall at all times hereafter in all records, deeds and writing and in all proceedings, dealings and transgressions as well as private and public and upon all occasions whatsoever use and sign the name of Jane Brown as my name in place of and in substitution of my former names Jane Smith and Jane Jones only.

3. Expressly authorise and request all persons at all times to designate and address me by such assumed name of Jane Brown accordingly

4. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my former and adopted names of Jane Smith, Jane Jones and Jane Brown


Dated this 4th day of April 2012

Signed by the above named

Jane Brown
Signed as Jane Brown
(adopted name)

Formerly known as
Jane Smith

Signed as Jane Smith
(former name)


Jane Jones

Signed as Jane Jones
(former name)


In the presence of witness

Name: __________________
Address: (witness signature)


Occupation

mazza111

Or miss out the SF name completely and go from birth name to married name

Formatting got a bit messed up on post. All names should be in caps.

And signatures should be on same line as name(s)

RAS

felixculpa wrote: »

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.

The same thing happened in my family; it was only when he was asked to produce his birth certificate that one person discovered that he had been raised and married using his step father's name.

I encounter a lot of young people trying to deal with this sort of mess; one recently had 6 different names by the age of 16, every time mum shacked up with a new bloke some of whom she married and some not. makes doing a CRB check interesting.

I do wish mothers would stop doing this thing of using their new partner's name as it causes all sorts of havoc for their children.