Passport? Wrong surname on Birth certificate.

ccluedo

Long story short, my 68year old relative wants a passport for the first time in his life!
Got a copy of his BC for him but turns out his unmarried mother registered him in her maiden name (guessing cos of the "shame" factor in the 1940's) His mother did marry his dad a couple of years later but obviously never went back and did anything about the BC. He has only ever been "known" by his fathers surname and is on the electoral role/medical records etc under that name.
Anyone know would we go about rectifying this ie having the BC corrected so he can get a passport? I called the General registrars office but didn't come away with clear instructions
Any help/advice appreciated, tnx

phatbear

Pretty sure you cant change birth certificates.

However it would be far easier for you relative to get his name changed by deed poll and this name would then appear on their passport.

This can be done quickly and cheaply through a citizens advice bureau

InsideInsurance

Dont have to go as far as a deed poll but it is one option, an affidavit is also sufficient.

See https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/name-changes-that-dont-match-official-documents

ccluedo

Thanks guys, didn't want to take him down the deed poll route as he would then have to change everything official bank/medical/electoral etc etc to match the BC name - lots of hassle for an elderly gentleman.
The affidavit sounds much less hassle ty InsideInsurance.
As an aside and morbid as it is to think of it now, what will happen when he inevitably passes away? Would I then have problems registering the death and getting a death certificate etc?

Mojisola

ccluedo wrote: »

Long story short, my 68year old relative wants a passport for the first time in his life!
Got a copy of his BC for him but turns out his unmarried mother registered him in her maiden name (guessing cos of the "shame" factor in the 1940's) His mother did marry his dad a couple of years later but obviously never went back and did anything about the BC.

Won't it be enough to have his BC and his mother's marriage certificate and the more recent stuff showing the name he has always used?

littlereddevil

I wouldn't think there would be a problem when he dies. Loads of people use a name not on their birth certificate.

smudge56

Mojisola wrote: »

Won't it be enough to have his BC and his mother's marriage certificate and the more recent stuff showing the name he has always used?

No he'll have to get a statutory declaration or a change of name deed and send that in along with his birth certificate,

TonyMMM

ccluedo wrote: »

Got a copy of his BC for him but turns out his unmarried mother registered him in her maiden name (guessing cos of the "shame" factor in the 1940's)

A UK birth certificate from the 1940s has no surname shown at all for the child.
Children were always assumed to take the surname of the father, or (if no father is named) then the mother. She had no other real choice available to her.

Stating the surname of the child on the birth certificate is a much more recent change.

I would have thought his BC, together with the later marriage certificate and a statutory declaration should suffice, so long as he was born in the UK and so was his mother and there is no question over his nationality qualification.

ccluedo

Sorry, I meant to come and update this. Four days after receiving BC, he then received a "Certified Copy of an Entry" following a Statutory Declaration which his mother made in 1992 and which has all the correct details on it and appears to suffice for passport

Thanks again to all who posted their thoughts.
*You are indeed correct Tony, there is no surname for the child on the BC, tnx for highlighting that*

InsideInsurance

There is a lot of assumptions when it comes to these things.

A marriage certificate doesnt actually state what names each party will use going forward just want names were at the time of marriage.

In the UK the Mrs used it to prove that she is now Mrs InsideInsurance and in her home country it was used so that she is now Mrs PaternalMaidenName de InsideInsurance or Mrs de InsideInsurance for short. Where as the guy I sit next to used his to prove he's now Mr FamilyName-WifesMaidenName as did his wife but of course there is nothing additional on the cert to substantiate this.