Change of surname - property purchase

SueRight

Hi. I changed my surname by deed-poll 4 months ago.
I have 5 bank accounts - 4 accounts with the new surname but 1 account still has my old surname. I am still using all 5 accounts.
I'm about to buy a property. Should I wait to change my surname on this 1 account because the solicitor needs to work out the paper trail i.e. where money A moved to account B (due to money laundering regulations).
I have moved money into the account with my old name several times - so if I change my surname now, will this 'destroy' the paper trail for them as when I show them the satement for this account it will show my new surname (when bunch of previous cash transactions show my old surname)? Or will they just look to see if transactions / address match between my accounts etc? I can also give them old passport and deedpoll of my name change.
I just don't want to 'complicate' things for them, but then again, I should really change the surname now (have waited this long due to lockdown as we can only change names in branch).


Advice would be great. Thanks.

SueRight

Simply put: 
worst case:
Will moving money from new surname account to old surname account immediately 'invalidate' this money and destroy the paper trail as the solicitor will assume the old surname account is someone else's account (not my account) and will expect to see bank statements for this account from another person (not me)?

best case: 
solicitor accepts my deedpoll and old passport + address and ASSUMES the old surname account is my account - and so the paper trail is not broken - just 'clouded' if that makes sense? Plus they can match every single cash transaction between old surname and new surname account since the name change, on a daily basis. And can I get account numbers / sort code for each transaction from my banks to prove the match, but this is not shown on a normal bank statement...


I.e. burden of proof is on me... Just depends on the solicitor and how picky they are, doesn't it?

AnotherJoe

Surely the account number will remain the same when you change name?

I think you are overthinking this.

SueRight

AnotherJoe said:

Surely the account number will remain the same when you change name?

I think you are overthinking this.

Absolutely it does Joe.
But account numbers aren't shown on 'modern' statements i.e. those you get on a phone or app? 
On my statements, it just shows the 'surname' of sender and amount. That's what's worrying me as the old surname shows up a lot, but when I change it soon, the surname on the statement 'header' will not match the sender  - so will confuse the solicitor. 
Yes I'm worrying because I don't want anything to go wrong!!!

Is there a way to get a more detailed statement from the bank that shows account number / sort code etc?

Thanks.

MovingForwards

For arguements sake.
Bank A = old name
Bank B - E = new name

Bank statements for B - E will show payments in, these payments in match with payments out from Bank A.

You will have proof of old name and proof of new name, therefore Banks A - E are accounted for as being one in the same person.

When providing statements to my broker and solicitor I explained where the money moved from, to and then to onward banks, including amounts and dates, just to avoid any confusion.

It's a simple thing to explain to anyone when asked.

Zanderman

I'm confused.
On your thread started 2 days ago you said:

SueRight said:

Hi.  I’m getting married soon and my surname will change... I dread the nightmare this is going to cause when changing old surname on bank account to new surname.... I have some monthly direct debits going into the account.. so if I change my surname, will these recurring payments stop because they are assigned to my old name Or will they continue so long as sort code and account number is the same?

(https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6160221/change-account-name)

Today you're saying you changed your name by deed poll, not marriage, 4 months ago, not soon, and most banks already know, not just about to?

And two days ago the worry was direct debits, today it's buying a property?

colsten

Just show your deed poll certificate / civil partnership certificate if anyone asks. 

SueRight

AnotherJoe said:

Surely the account number will remain the same when you change name?

I think you are overthinking this.

MovingForwards said:

For arguements sake.
Bank A = old name
Bank B - E = new name

Bank statements for B - E will show payments in, these payments in match with payments out from Bank A.

You will have proof of old name and proof of new name, therefore Banks A - E are accounted for as being one in the same person.

When providing statements to my broker and solicitor I explained where the money moved from, to and then to onward banks, including amounts and dates, just to avoid any confusion.

It's a simple thing to explain to anyone when asked.

Zanderman said:

I'm confused.
On your thread started 2 days ago you said:

SueRight said:

Hi.  I’m getting married soon and my surname will change... I dread the nightmare this is going to cause when changing old surname on bank account to new surname.... I have some monthly direct debits going into the account.. so if I change my surname, will these recurring payments stop because they are assigned to my old name Or will they continue so long as sort code and account number is the same?

(https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6160221/change-account-name)

Today you're saying you changed your name by deed poll, not marriage, 4 months ago, not soon, and most banks already know, not just about to?

And two days ago the worry was direct debits, today it's buying a property?

I've thought of a fix.
I'll put the sort code and account number as the 'reference' and send some cash to all my accounts - do that every few days over the next few weeks or so … That should 'link' all my accounts, I would've thought? What do you think?

colsten

I think you are severely overthinking the matter.

Apart from a possible limit of available characters, there is of course nothing that stops you from sending cash to your other accounts using the sort code and account number of the sending account in the reference field. It would be redundant information though, because even it you couldn't see the sending account sort code/acct number, the  receiving bank certainly could.

I think you worry way too much. As I said before, if you are asked any questions about the source of your funds, just show your deed poll certificate / civil partnership certificate. Assuming probity of your funds in the accounts with your previous name, there should not be any problems at all.

MovingForwards

The 'link' is already between the accounts as I explained. 
Again using my example:
Bank A, £150, 27/06/2020 payment out
Bank B, £150, 27/06/2020 payment in

You are over thinking this.

AnotherJoe

SueRight said:

AnotherJoe said:

Surely the account number will remain the same when you change name?

I think you are overthinking this.

Absolutely it does Joe.
But account numbers aren't shown on 'modern' statements i.e. those you get on a phone or app? 
On my statements, it just shows the 'surname' of sender and amount. That's what's worrying me as the old surname shows up a lot, but when I change it soon, the surname on the statement 'header' will not match the sender  - so will confuse the solicitor. 
Yes I'm worrying because I don't want anything to go wrong!!!

Is there a way to get a more detailed statement from the bank that shows account number / sort code etc?

Thanks.

Your solicitor is going to want printed statements, not glance at your phone screen !

Just ask your bank for a printed statement (Or revert to paper statements for the next few months)