Going Back To Maiden Name....Easy Enough???

barbiedoll

I've been married twice and have changed my name several times. It can be a bit of a faff, I've been married to my second husband for 22 years but I'm still on the payroll at work under my maiden name, even though everyone knows me by my married name. And I'm still under my maiden name at my GP, although I plan to change that soon (I've been saying that for years!)

Even though my passport and driving license are in my married name, my water company refuses to change the name on my bill unless I provide them with copies of my divorce certificate, and my new (!) marriage certificate, along with photographic proof of my married name. I honestly can't be bothered so for the last 25 years since my divorce, I'm still getting bills in my old married name. And they can't even spell that right! 

clare1angel

MalMonroe said:

clare1angel said:

Hi,

So my Mum has been divorced for well over 5 years now and for a long time has wanted to go back to her maiden name.  I have looked on the GOV site and there is a template for changing it yourself - has anyone done it this way and successfully changed it at banks, with utilities and even changed their name on a passport?

Obviously if this can all be done without paying out that would be great but if it's better to pay and go through the www.ukdp.co.uk then I'll help her with that.

Any advice is gratefully appreciated

Hi, first of all look at the info in these links - 

https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information

https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/divorce-or-returning-to-a-previous-surname

You are being misinformed because if your Mum wants to change her name on her passport, she'll have to get a brand new one.

It might help your Mum to have her name accepted if she changes it by deed poll, another government link coming up 

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll

Once everything is all official she shouldn't have half as much trouble trying to get herself recognised under her old name. 

Another link, here for driving licence changes - https://www.gov.uk/change-name-driving-licence

Good news is that driving licence doesn't cost!  woo hoo.

I was going to change back to my maiden name when I divorced but didn't want to have a different last name to my children while they were at school and then of course the faff and expense with the passport and everything else just put me right off!

P.S. BTW, the link you gave 'www.ukdp.co.uk' is NOT a government department, as stated on their website "Please Note: We are an independent company and this website is not affiliated with H.M. Government. Customers wishing to make their own Deedpoll could check out the resources on www.gov.uk"

You'd be better off going through the government website link I have given you. It could also end up being cheaper. But even if not, it's a better bet.

Thank you for all the links I had looked on the GOV website and will use the template from there.  I wasn't sure about the ukdp site so will not bother with that one.

Her passport is still valid for about 7 years but she'd rather pay for a new one and have that has added proof for changing her name elsewhere the only problem is sending proof of her already using her maiden name as at the minute it's only her virgin bill and her water bill which I managed to change for her online.

clare1angel

barbiedoll said:

I've been married twice and have changed my name several times. It can be a bit of a faff, I've been married to my second husband for 22 years but I'm still on the payroll at work under my maiden name, even though everyone knows me by my married name. And I'm still under my maiden name at my GP, although I plan to change that soon (I've been saying that for years!)

Even though my passport and driving license are in my married name, my water company refuses to change the name on my bill unless I provide them with copies of my divorce certificate, and my new (!) marriage certificate, along with photographic proof of my married name. I honestly can't be bothered so for the last 25 years since my divorce, I'm still getting bills in my old married name. And they can't even spell that right! 

I had the same trouble with virgin media when I got married...they wanted to charge me £30 to change my name!

I actually managed to change my Mums surname on her water account last night which I was surprised at.

I'm going to go through all her bills and see which I can change without hassle and then try and get a new passport for her as that will make changing her name at other places much easier.