Please help with Childs name change?

dacdesigns

Hi,

Me and my partner are looking at changing our son (7) and daughter (2) surname, they both carry my surname (dad) and it's not very nice. We didnt give it much thought at the time but now my son is at the age where other kids have started to bring it up, we have all sat down and agreed to change both names to my partners surname.

My problem is the School are saying they can call my son by his new name but won't without document change the register. We are also needing to purchase them both Passports as soon as possible so have been looking at the online services but are we getting ripped off? I can't get my head around what's the best and cheapest way to go about it.

The Goverment website says it's optional to be put in the Gazette but want's to charge £36 for it with what looks like loads of forms to fill in.

Thanks in advance! :beer:

Guest101

I'm slightly confused.


Changing their name can be done via deed poll, which you can present to the school and they will have to change the register.


Getting new passports seems unnecessary at this stage, they're still valid. Once they've expired simply apply for new ones in the new name, providing copy of the deed poll certificate.


Whats the Gazette? I think you're using a form filling website, which charges you to fill out the forms.

dacdesigns

Hi,

Thanks for the fast reply,

Heres the link to the website regarding the gazette:

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/change-a-childs-name

We don't currently have any passports for the children, never have but are looking to get them for the first time, sorry should been have clearer.

I was going to use deedpoll.org.uk for the Deed Poll but keep reading that it's a waste of money and not needed. the reason I have not already done this was because I had read that you don't need a Deed Poll for anything other than a passport or driving licence and didn't need the passports until now.

candlelight_2013

Firstly we need to establish that you and the children's father were not married at the time of the birth

Secondly did you both attend the registration and the father signed the register confirming he was the father

Thirdly have you married since the birth of the children.

If you have married the children's father then their births need to be re-registered and you need to pop along to the Register office and apply for the re-registration. This will cost you nothing at all other than the price of a new birth certificate.

Candlelightx

TonyMMM

Assuming you are not married ...

Is your partner the father of the children, and if so is he named on the birth certificates ?

If he is the father, a simple re-registration of birth may be the easiest answer (no cost - other than for copies of the amended certificates).

If not - is another father named (which makes things far more complex) ?

Guest101

dacdesigns wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for the fast reply,

Heres the link to the website regarding the gazette:

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/change-a-childs-name

We don't currently have any passports for the children, never have but are looking to get them for the first time, sorry should have clearer.

I was going to use deedpoll.org.uk for the Deed Poll but keep reading that it's a waste of money and not needed.

Ah I see, the public record, I apologise I wasn't aware of the 'name'.


It just makes it easier for you to prove the name change is official, so you can send a link to the school (and in adults institutions such as DWP, Banks etc.). It's worth the £36 as when they're older they will need to fill out forms which says: have you ever been known by any other name. It's also useful if they do any jobs which require DBS clearance.


The reviews are correct, it's straight forward to do.


I'd wait until you have the name changed before getting passports, as it's the first ones, rather than replacements

Guest101

candlelight_2013 wrote: »

Firstly we need to establish that you and the children's father were not married at the time of the birth

Secondly did you both attend the registration and the father signed the register confirming he was the father

Thirdly have you married since the birth of the children.

If you have married the children's father then their births need to be re-registered and you need to pop along to the Register office and apply for the re-registration. This will cost you nothing at all other than the price of a new birth certificate.

Candlelightx

TonyMMM wrote: »

Is your partner the father of the children, and if so is he named on the birth certificates ?

If he is the father, a simple re-registration of birth may be the easiest answer (no cost - other than for copies of the amended certificates).

If not - is another father named (which makes things far more complex) ?

OP IS the father.

dacdesigns

I am the Father and both children have my surname,

My partner and I have never been married.

Floxxie

I'm confused too.

So you want the children to have your partner's surname and not yours? I'm not sure how that will change anything.

I was married but never changed my name. My children have their dad's surname.

Guest101

Floxxie wrote: »

I'm confused too.

So you want the children to have your partner's surname and not yours? I'm not sure how that will change anything.

I was married but never changed my name. My children have their dad's surname.

Presumably the OP has an 'amusing name'


or a name that rhymes with an insult


e.g. Platt and Prat, or 'Bates', with a male child being referred to as 'master' in old English.


The list im sure is ever growing.

TonyMMM

dacdesigns wrote: »

I am the Father and both children have my surname,

My partner and I have never been married.

Sorry for the confusion - in that case, the choice to give them your surname was made when the children were registered, and that cannot be changed now - unless you marry , in which case a re-registration (and name change) would be possible.

A deed poll may be the way to go - it doesn't have to be enrolled (registered with the court), but enrolling, and publishing in the Gazette, may help them in later life if the change is ever queried.