Proof of change of name for passport app.

Maestro.

Here's the situation (I don't know if this is the best bit to post this in).


Eight years ago now I changed my surname to follow my mother who had recently changed hers back to her maiden name. As I am in Scotland there is no requirement to do it via deed poll, and as I was a school leaver with nothing in my name there was nothing "official" to do, I simply took my new name and started using it, one of the first things I did was open a bank account, then went to college etc, all in my new name.


The trouble is, this has led to me now having very little evidence that I am the same person actually on my birth certificate, and as I've recently applied for a passport, the passport office quite rightly want me to prove that person with surname X is the same as person with surname Y, by having the documentary proof witnessed and signed by, say a justice of the peace or a solicitor.


But the question is, how? I've got my mum's marriage and divorce certificate, but the only documentation I have in my own old name are probably high school exam paper achievements, and they are hardly definitive proof that I am who I say I am. I have very little, if anything to actually connect me to the "old me".


Does anyone have any ideas, 'cause I am scratching my head on this one!

jonesMUFCforever

Ask the passport office what their requirements are?

InsideInsurance

There is no legal requirement anywhere in the UK to do a deed poll to change your name, you can call yourself what you want when you want as long as it isnt for fraudulent purposes.

https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/name-changes-that-dont-match-official-documents gives you the various options of how to get your change of name for the passport. The easiest would be to do an affidavit and as long as you can get a suitable wording yourself a solicitor/ commissioner of oaths (or whatever the scottish equiv is) will only charge you £10 or so for hearing you make the declaration and stamping it to confirm as such. If they have to word it for you then its probably closer to £100