Daughter wants to change name

Standingtall

Hi All

My daughter wants to change her name, it will be a hyphenated combination of stepdad's and birth dad's name. She is know by this name at school and how she is 16 yrs wants her passport, bank, etc to reflect this. I was under the impression she could do this at 16 yrs and this is the advice on UK Deedpoll Service Site, yet on government site it says 18 yrs.

Thanks
ST

NewShadow

Sorry to paste a block, but I'm heading out

How to change your child's last name

A name can effectively be changed by common usage but this normally relates to first names only and will not usually be legally enforceable. The easiest way of obtaining a formal proof may be to make a statutory declaration in front of a solicitor confirming the change of name. This is usually sufficient for banks, work and the Passport Office, etc.

For a change of name to be fully legally recognised, the person having parental responsibility for the child can execute a Deed Poll which is a legal document containing personal information about the child and which will later be advertised in the London Gazette by the Court. The child must sign the Deed Poll as evidence of consent, if that child is aged between 16 and 18 years.

There is a procedure in England & Wales called enrolment, which means that a deed poll is placed for safe keeping in the Royal Courts of Justice. It is not a requirement for the deed poll to be enrolled. Government bodies (e.g. HM Passport Office, DVLA, etc.) accept both enrolled and unenrolled deed polls. The process of enrolment doesn't affect the legal status of your name. It isn't more or less legally recognised than an unenrolled deed poll. It's simply a matter of making a safe and public record of your change of name.

The Deed Poll must be accompanied by the child's birth certificate and a declaration sworn by a third party to formally identify the child and state the length of time for which that person has known the child and his or her parents. The Deed Poll must be supported by an Affidavit, a solemn promise that the proposed change of name will be for the benefit of the child.

For more information on how to change your child's surname, visit the website of Deed Poll Office where there is vast information on this and more.

http://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/divorce-and-separation/your-children/how-to-change-your-child-s-surname/

Q&A at the bottom of the page re: how/who.