Am I too old to change my name?

AubreyMac

32 is not old at all!!


Do it, it is very symbolic regardless of what everyone thinks/questions.


However, at 32 isn't it likely you could change that in the near future if you were to marry? (I know, assumptions here!)

GlasweJen

Scotland, up here a deed poll isn't valid for proving a change of name. It's free to change but you need to buy new birth certificates.

chelseablue

AubreyMac wrote: »

32 is not old at all!!


Do it, it is very symbolic regardless of what everyone thinks/questions.


However, at 32 isn't it likely you could change that in the near future if you were to marry? (I know, assumptions here!)

By the time I got married I'd be near enough 42 :rotfl:

devils_vixen

GlasweJen wrote: »

Scotland, up here a deed poll isn't valid for proving a change of name. It's free to change but you need to buy new birth certificates.

It's not free to change your name via national records of Scotland which is the official way to change it in Scotland. It costs £40 to record the change and there is an extra charge for the new extract.

There is always reference to the previous name unless under 2 and having a forename change only. There's also a limit of up to 3 surname changes and 1 forename change when over 16. A period of 5 years has to lapse in between surname changes.

Primrose

Just make sure that things like your National Insurance number don't get screwed up and that all such communications are clearly recorded and youb keep copies of correspondence. It could affect your state pension in later years if records are incorrectly kept.

GlasweJen

devils_vixen wrote: »

It's not free to change your name via national records of Scotland which is the official way to change it in Scotland. It costs £40 to record the change and there is an extra charge for the new extract.

There is always reference to the previous name unless under 2 and having a forename change only. There's also a limit of up to 3 surname changes and 1 forename change when over 16. A period of 5 years has to lapse in between surname changes.

I can't remember paying to change, just remember being told I can't use my original certificate any more.

persa

You're not too old to change your name, but if you're planning to get married in a few years and change your name again then, is it worth the hassle just for a few years of being known by a different surname?

Also, you say your Dad's surname is your 'family name', but your mum doesn't share that surname and seems happy with the one she's got (and you also have), so what are the implications there? Have you floated this idea past her? I wonder if she might take this badly?

Ultimately, it's your name, your identity, do what you want. Just make sure you understand the emotional consequences as well as the practical ones!

squashy

Change it to whatever you want if you aren't feeling it!

I decided in my 20s to start using a different surname, my fella's even though we weren't married. I just put Mrs Smith on everything even though legally it was Miss Jones. Of course on my passport it stayed as Miss Jones. After all, people such as doctors and actors go by professional names all the time which are different to their real one.

When our daughter was born, choosing her surname was easy. And I eventually married my fella so it all worked out!