Who am I?

voyager74656

Born in 1970 to a married couple and was given birth surname and registered as such. Couple split in 1974. Mother remarried in 1976 and I was given new family surname. This was never changed in any legal form ie, deed poll, adoption. I was known by this surname until I found out in 2001. Although my name was never changed legally I had passport, driving licence etc. I have changed all these important things back to my birth name.
As no legal action taken about name change, does this mean the person known from 1976 until 2001 actually existed?

RAS

You are somewhat luckier than the young person I met who was given 6 different surnames by the time she was 16 years old, one for every time mum got together with another man.

You are voyager birthsurname, also known as voyager stepdad's name.

The sticky bits are likely to be your exam certificates and school/college records as they will have been taken in step-dad's surname.

Do you have the old passport? Or the contact with anyone at your old school/college etc?

If you have to do a DBS check, you will need some sort of records tying you to the other name.

InsideInsurance

You are whoever you want to be as long as you dont do it to attempt fraud and you answer all questions honest (namely, questions about any previous names you've been known by).

Technically you do not need to do anything to change your name (https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll) however by doing a deed poll change makes life easier for more official documents

Counting_Pennies_2

You are the make up of the people who brought you into the world and those who have shaped your world since.

You can be whatever name you choose to be based on what part of life you feel you belong to.

Take comfort in the knowledge you can trace your family line both ways. Many people who were born and given away for adoption struggle to find their identity as they have no means of tracing who they really are.

Embrace the good bits through the good experiences, and recognise and file away the parts you don't feel you have benefitted from

MrsAtobe

'A rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet.'

claire23

voyager74656 wrote: »

Born in 1970 to a married couple and was given birth surname and registered as such. Couple split in 1974. Mother remarried in 1976 and I was given new family surname. This was never changed in any legal form ie, deed poll, adoption. I was known by this surname until I found out in 2001. Although my name was never changed legally I had passport, driving licence etc. I have changed all these important things back to my birth name.

QUOTE]



Sorry if I am hijacking your thread, this is almost exactly my situation. Born in 1976 to a married couple, they split and divorce in 78/79, mum meets and sets up home with new man, changes my name to his, presumably when baby brother born. All through school, doctors, NI card received at 16, provisional driving licence and COBT for moped at 17, all in step dads name. I find out in 1994 that the man who I knew as 'dad' was in fact my step-dad. Unlike you though I kept his name. The only problem I encountered was applying for a passport. I had to get a change of name by deed poll done to link my birth certificate to my marriage certificate. Never had any contact with birth father since age of 2 (according to mum). Still think about trying to find him from time to time.


As no legal action taken about name change, does this mean the person known from 1976 until 2001 actually existed?[/


this is quite a profound question lol. would like to know the answer myself, i.e. where did 'claire23 birthname' go?

DianneB

Hi voyager, same happened to me, I was born in 1954 and was always known by my stepdad's surname only found out it hadn't been changed officially when I got married in the 70's and I then took my husbands surname, it has never caused any problems and I have never felt that my misnamed years were 'lost'.

Amanda65

Jean Valjean? Sorry couldn't resist that and if you're not a Les Mis fan won't even understand it :rotfl:

My belief is that you can call yourself whatever you want as long as it is not for fraudulent purposes. This should help

http://deed-poll-office.org.uk/

duchy

I changed my name by common usage-eg I was know to everyone by a different surname. Lots of people think you have to change your name by deed poll-it's simply not true. My banks accepted the change-there were no issues with passports, NI etc....in fact the only person who wasn't happy was the registrar when I went to book my wedding.....and when I asked her if there was a problem with changing a name by common usage rather than deed poll as I understood it was perfectly legal she conceded there wasn't.....and booked the wedding .

I suppose solicitors made money out of deed polls but not common usage.

meritaten

my OHs father was informally adopted by his uncle so he had his mothers maiden name. but she was married at the time to someone who wasn't his father. so he had to marry under her legal name which was different to the name he was known as! I had to get used to being called either Mrs Smith or Mrs Jones!
but legally - it was the name he was registered under.
if your name hasn't been legally changed then its the one on your birth certificate. If you feel your name should be different - then you can call yourself that or legally change it by deed poll.

fluffnutter

voyager74656 wrote: »

..until I found out in 2001.

claire23 wrote: »

I find out in 1994 that the man who I knew as 'dad' was in fact my step-dad.

I think things would be a whole lot easier if people told their kids the truth from the outset. I really feel for anyone who suddenly finds themselves not the person they thought they were. Talk about an identity crisis.