What's my name (and I mean that seriously!!)?

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

Was not sure where to post this and hope I chose an appropriate forum. Please move it if necessary....

And yes, you read it right... What is my name?

On my birth certificate my first name is Massimo. I am also Massimo with the NHS.

With everything else I can think of I am Max, including passport, driving license, banking, mortgage, etc.

I have often wondered if this could lead to problems at some point down the line. But I've never looked into it. I am planning on getting my Will done and was just reading the MSE article in which it says how important it is to have all details 100% correct. And so that got me back to thinking about this whole name issue.

Any thoughts from anyone?

Many thanks

Max/Massimo/????? :rotfl:

nearlyrich

I would put Massimo (Known as Max) or aka Max on anything like a will hope that helps.

AlexLK

You can call yourself anything you like so long as it is not to commit fraud.

Ms_Chocaholic

When my dad died a few years ago all his papers said his name was John James Smith when his birth certificate had his name as James John Smith. His death was registered as the former and there were no problems with any accounts etc.

Brighton_belle

We had a client at work who wanted to take out an annuity and they had different first names on different essential documents and it did cause a lot of problems (that did get resolved but the whole process took longer than usual)
With the will your solicitor can advise but the "massimo also known as know as max" would likely be the way to go.

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

Thanks for all of those helpful replies this time last year.

Tbh, I totally forgot I had made this thread. The issue has arisen again now and I was about to make a new post when something in the back of my mind made me have a look. At here is was....

Anyhow, the same issue has reared its head so I thought I'd come back to it now in case anyone has any further advice.

Just to re-iterate.... On my birth cert and NHS card I am Massimo. On everything else (including passport, driving license, all banks and utilities, etc etc) I am Max.

Which should I consider "official" and use on my WILL? And does anyone else have stories of when a similar situation has/hasn't been problematic?

Many thanks

Max/Massimo

benjus

Seagull27 wrote: »

Hi all

Thanks for all of those helpful replies this time last year.

Tbh, I totally forgot I had made this thread. The issue has arisen again now and I was about to make a new post when something in the back of my mind made me have a look. At here is was....

Anyhow, the same issue has reared its head so I thought I'd come back to it now in case anyone has any further advice.

Just to re-iterate.... On my birth cert and NHS card I am Massimo. On everything else (including passport, driving license, all banks and utilities, etc etc) I am Max.

Which should I consider "official" and use on my WILL? And does anyone else have stories of when a similar situation has/hasn't been problematic?

Many thanks

Max/Massimo

I don't think anything has changed in the last year. Why do you need to re-ask the question when it's already been answered?

Georgiegirl256

Unless I'm totally missing something, your name is the one on your birth certificate surely. That is your full name and the one that should be used on official documents.

Max is merely a shortened version of your name and must have been what you used when you applied for your passport/driving licence etc.

Mojisola

Seagull27 wrote: »

Just to re-iterate.... On my birth cert and NHS card I am Massimo. On everything else (including passport, driving license, all banks and utilities, etc etc) I am Max.

Which should I consider "official" and use on my WILL? And does anyone else have stories of when a similar situation has/hasn't been problematic?

nearlyrich wrote: »

I would put Massimo (Known as Max) or aka Max on anything like a will hope that helps.

Perfect answer already given.

TBagpuss

on the will you can put "Massimo Lastname (also known as Max Lastname)" or Max Lastname (formerly Massimo LastName)

Alternatively you could chose to do a formal change of name to Max, and update the details with the NHS. You would need to produce a copy of the change of name deed as well as your birth certificate in situations where you need your birth certificate, but there aren't many of those.

Tuesday_Tenor

Legally, you can call yourself anything you like and change your name as often as you like, as long as there is no intention to commit fraud.

However, nowadays, when discrepancies over time can cause problems confirming your identity, it's not a good idea to have lots of variations.

Two ways of dealing with this have been mentioned
1) Continuing to use both names and 'aka' each time
2) Formally change your name to Max to use that from now on, and so Massimo becomes your former name.

There is a third option, if you want to continue using both names:

3) You could sign a statutory declaraion along the lines of :

'I, Massimo [Lastname] on birth certnoXXXXXX and NHS no YYYYYY am the same person as Max [Lastname] on passport no ZZZZZZZZ and driving licence QQQQQQQ'

Not sure whether this can be declared to any solicitor or whether it has to be a Justice of the Peace. [Was a JP when I changed the spelling of my surname, which was originally transliterated oddly when my father came here as a refugee after WW2].

I suggest ask solicitor about this when you make your will.

You will then have a formal piece of paper which can be copied and included whenever you do anything official where:
- your proofs of identity are different and so confusing to 'officialdom'
or
- the name box on the form doesn't have enough room for all the info of the 'aka' option. [Which could be 40+ characters if you have a long surname!]

There will be a fee for doing the statutory declaration, but you will then have the solution for the rest of your life .... and beyond.... Whoever is executor of your estate will be grateful to have a simple resolution for the name discrepancies in the paper trail of your life!!!