Divorce and name change?

Dunroamin

Alter_ego wrote: »

Lots of nonsense is spoken/posted regarding name changes. In UK anyone can change their name without any formality/payment etc. Just do it and inform those who need to know.
Don't forget Driving licence/passport etc.

Particular nonsense talked about taking someone else's name on marriage, as if many women still think this has some kind of basis in law as opposed to being a personal choice.

InsideInsurance

LazyLizzie wrote: »

I'm still confused though(sorry!). So it's legal and okay for me to use either name? If I wanted to rent a house, it would be fine to put the name down as my non married name, and have the credit checks in that name? My ex husband had a lot of debt, so I wouldn't want to use that name in case it effected(or affected?) my credit score... is that going to effect it either way?

Someone said this:

So does that mean I still will need to change it by deed poll to make it official or something? Or will the marriage certificate, divorce decree thingy and my birth certificate be okay?
I wish I never got married now, or that I didn't take his surname!

Thank you everyone for all the help, I really appreciate it, and sorry I'm a lemon and don't understand some things/get confused easily!

When you look at your credit file it contains the other names you have been known by and when you apply for credit it asks you to declare other names youve been known by. This type of thing is not an issue.

Credit files are individual and short of a mix up then just by sharing a name your files wont be affecting each other just as any other LazyLizzie on the planet isnt effecting you. The only time when you do effect each other is where you have had a joint credit account (not shared credit cards) such as a current account, mortgage, loans, utility bills etc. Once all of these are closed you can file a notice of disassociation to break the tie irrespective of the name situation.

You NEVER have to change your name by deed poll, it just makes life easier if you do in certain circumstances where someone wants proof of your identity. Marriage/ divorce is easy as you have the official documents.

If you just wanted to change your name on a whim then phone up half the non banking companies and they'l all just change it over the phone. Get your new utility bills in that name, your new HMRC letter and you can then open a bank account in your new name and everything down stream of that becomes easy.

To change your name on a whim on your passport all you need to do is sign an affidavit saying that you are now to be known as X and you put your old name down in the "maiden name" box of the application form (even though it isnt due to marriage) and then pay the fee to get a new passport

anamenottaken

LazyLizzie wrote: »

The letter has got a stamp on it with the court but not a date, and the first line it has on the letter is "Referring to the decree made in this cause on the (date), whereby it was decreed that the marriage solemnised on the (date)."
The letter has confused me too because the whole thing in worded really weirdly! I mean, it's probably worded normally to a clever person!
It has our names and then says "be dissolved unless sufficient cause be shown to the court within six weeks from the making of thereof why the said decree should not be made absolute, and no such cause having been shown, it is hereby certified that the said decree was on the (date), made final and absolute and that the said marriage was thereby dissolved."
That probably makes perfect sense to everyone else!

My passport never got changed so it's still in my name I had before I got married.

I hope I can just show the letter I got today and my birth certificate, thank you!

The part about "unless sufficient cause" is reference to the Decree Nisi. (Nisi is Latin for unless.) As no such cause was presented to the court, you now have a Decree Absolute and are no longer married.

Grumpelstiltskin

If you were married in England or Wales you can order a copy of the certificate from the GRO. It costs £9.25


http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp

Kynthia

LazyLizzie wrote: »

I'm still confused though(sorry!). So it's legal and okay for me to use either name? If I wanted to rent a house, it would be fine to put the name down as my non married name, and have the credit checks in that name? My ex husband had a lot of debt, so I wouldn't want to use that name in case it effected(or affected?) my credit score... is that going to effect it either way?

A marriage certificate doesn't legally change your name, it's just a document that is often used to evidence changing your name if you choose to. Therefore you don't need any new document to stop using your married name and if people do want something you can give them your birth certificate or your divorce certificate. You can use either your maiden name or married name without doing anything. Technically you could use a completely new name if you wanted without going through a deed poll but many people do it this way as it make it easier to get a passport in the new name.

Alter_ego

Seanymph wrote: »

So, if you pick a name out of a hat - then deed poll.
.

This of course is not true, but lots of people think it is. Sorry seanymph.

Seanymph

Oh don't be.

I tried to change mine without a deedpoll certificate and some places don't care - but banks, passports and driving licences want to see paperwork.

For the sake of about £20.00 it makes it all much easier.