Changing surname on passport after divorce - bit of a rant

mothertoben10

Now, as I understand it, you can keep your passport in your married name until it expires and then change your name due to the cost of making changes on your passport. What I don't understand, however, is why on earth do you have to provide both your decree absolute and your marriage certificate if you want to change your name on the new passport. As part of the divorce process, you are required to relinquish your marriage certificate so I no longer have it. I now have to apply for a copy of it at a cost of £11 all for the sake of changing my name on my passport. My bank and everything else took my decree absolute as proof. Given that both divorce and passport application are done via the gov.uk sites, surely they should know this!

hazyjo

Don't they mean your current marriage certificate?

mothertoben10

hazyjo said:

Don't they mean your current marriage certificate?

It doesn't say that though and I haven't got a current one anyway as I am single

Elisheba

I need to get a new passport and am just divorced. Didn't know this about a marriage certificate. I have a scan of mine from before I submitted it for the divorce proceedings. I wonder if that will do? 

mothertoben10

This is what it says:

Divorce or returning to a previous surname

When you apply, you also need to send:

your birth certificate

a statement signed by you saying you’ve gone back to a previous surname (for example your maiden name) ‘for all purposes’ - that is, you will not use your married or civil partnership name at all

a document that shows you’re using your new name (for example a payslip, or a letter from your local council)

your decree absolute or final order showing both names

a marriage or civil partnership certificate showing both names - if you do not have it you can order a copy

[Deleted User]

 Who told you you had to relinquish your marriage certificate when you got divorced? Not true you can keep a copy and you or anyone else can get a copy at any time 

mothertoben10

I did the divorce myself and this is what was asked for, the marriage certificate is not then sent back. I had lost the original so had to get a copy:

To apply for a divorce you’ll need:

your husband or wife’s full name and address

your original marriage certificate or a certified copy (and a certified translation if it’s not in English)

proof of your name change if you’ve changed it since you got married - for example your marriage certificate or a deed poll

74jax

I changed back from my married name to my previous name with just my birth certificate?  Perhaps i was lucky.......