A Confusion of Names/Identities

ElizabethJane

Yep certainly not a new problem

TBagpuss

tensandunits wrote: »

This is peculiar, and no doubt open to abuse.

Not really.

You are free to call yourself whatever you want, provided you don't do so with intent to defraud.

You can change your name simply by usage, and it is perfectly legal,. However, organisations are free to set their own policies about what they will accept in terms of proof of ID.

ElizabethJane

Ah that it is interesting......but Bank of England rules to avoid identity fraud is what we're up against.

northwalesd

tensandunits wrote: »

This is peculiar, and no doubt open to abuse.

Unless you're getting married in an Anglican church you must give notice of marriage at your local register office - and they require proof of ID, with proof of name change (e.g. deed poll) if you have done so. So I don't think you can just call yourself what you want (at least these days, it may have been different in the past).

TBagpuss

northwalesd wrote: »

Unless you're getting married in an Anglican church you must give notice of marriage at your local register office - and they require proof of ID, with proof of name change (e.g. deed poll) if you have done so. So I don't think you can just call yourself what you want (at least these days, it may have been different in the past).

Like I said, any organisation is free to decide what proof they will, or won't, accept. Things such as Anti-Money Laundering laws, Immigration rules etc mean that many organisations are more rigid about what they do and don't accept, but the legal position is that you are entitled to be known by whatever name you chose (provided it is not with intent to defraud). It is your legal name, whether or not you have a document stating that.

But any organisation is entitled to take whatever steps it feels are reasonable to verify that you are *same* person as the one entitled to the shares, or the NI number, or whatever. A change of name deed is nothing more than a piece of paper confirming that you are known by a different name. It is purely a way of saying what your name is. There is no legal requirement to have one, but it does, in many cases, make a lot of practical sense.

In OPs case, getting her mum to do a formal name change is probably going to be the easiest and quickest way to resolve the situation, because she probably doesn't want the time and hassle involved in persuading the bank to acknowledge that she is the correct person.

TonyMMM

northwalesd wrote: »

Unless you're getting married in an Anglican church you must give notice of marriage at your local register office - and they require proof of ID, with proof of name change (e.g. deed poll) if you have done so. So I don't think you can just call yourself what you want (at least these days, it may have been different in the past).

You do have to provide proof of ID nowadays when getting married, If you have changed your name by usage the registrar will need to see some other sort of documents confirming the name you are known by or using which could be a deed poll, but could also be other things.

Pricivius

It is true that you can call yourself whatever you want, but be ready to have to clear whatever hurdles various authorities put in your way.

I use a different surname to that on my birth certificate, but I have never married or been adopted or changed my name by deed poll etc.. I just started using the new surname, but without any official documented explanation.

Now everything is in my new surname - bank accounts, driving licence, house, car, electoral role, professional qualification etc..

The only document that refers to my birth surname (apart from my birth certificate) is my passport. My passport is in my new surname but contains an "Also Known As" stating my birth surname.

It sounds as though a change of name deed makes most sense in your circumstances, OP. Hopefully this should suffice.

Robisere

My paternal gran was a Romany, born 1878 in a Romany van with no birth certificate, but knowledge of her name and birthdate was passed to her by her mother. Her two forenames were changed in their order by gran and events after her Death in 1967 was a nightmare. I have no idea how her marriage to granddad in 1899 was conducted and recorded, but fortunately for the family, at her death my police officer uncle dealt with the complications. The family was never really certain that her family name was correct! Granddad had passed away in 1954.

My mother was born legally with a certificate, but also changed the order of her two forenames. That caused problems for me as executor when she died, seven months after dad. Her names on the Death Certificate were not the same as those on her Birth Certificate. A good solicitor sorted that all out for me.

My wife has done exactly the same thing: because, at a young age, she informed her parents that she hated the first of her two forenames, she was (and continues to be) known by the second. However, she has always ensured that all documentation carries her full name as it is on her birth certificate.

Mrs_Ryan

When I obtained a copy of OH's birth certificate when we were trying to find out if he could get an Irish passport, it took longer as it turns out the name his mum was known by was her middle name. This in turn caused nightmares when trying to find his parents marriage certificate as it seems her names were different on her birth, marriage, OH's birth, and her death certificates.
I have officially changed my surname but I don't always use it because I have discovered double barrelled surnames are a pain!

ElizabethJane

Have taken loads of advice and it seems that my mother's baptism certificate plus the marriage certificate will both be accepted. Now going through the arduous process of getting all the various private commercial and public institutions to adopt the same name. Only small hurdle now is some forum of photo ID which the bank has asked for. We'll take her free transport pass.

😂

Thanks for all your responses, they've been a fascinating and amusing read.:beer: