We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.
Taking one name from double barrel. Deed poll?

Karategirl
Posts: 5 Forumite

Hoping someone who has been through something similar will be able to advise. I got married last year and want to change my surname to my husband's name. The problem is that he has a double barreled name (hyphenated). In day to day and professional life he only uses the first part of the double barrel. My intention is to change my surname to just the first part of his double barrel. His official name is the equivalent of Smith-Jones and I will just be Mrs Smith. Future kids will also just be Smith.
Will my marriage certificate be enough for all the name change malarkey, or will I need a deed poll? Reading online you can use your marriage certificate if it is a straight easy swap or you intend to create a double barreled name, but no advice if it is accepted if just taking one part of someone else's barrel! Marriage certificate lists him as Smith-Jones.
Numerous reasons for just wanting one singular name. His two names are too long to fit on forms and is unfortunately a rather bizarre sounding double barrel, which causes endless confusion.
Will my marriage certificate be enough for all the name change malarkey, or will I need a deed poll? Reading online you can use your marriage certificate if it is a straight easy swap or you intend to create a double barreled name, but no advice if it is accepted if just taking one part of someone else's barrel! Marriage certificate lists him as Smith-Jones.
Numerous reasons for just wanting one singular name. His two names are too long to fit on forms and is unfortunately a rather bizarre sounding double barrel, which causes endless confusion.
0
Comments
-
You can call yourself whatever you want - but if you want your 'simplified' name on official documents like passport, driving licence and bank account then a Deed Poll is the way to go.The wording you need to use is here - https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll. It's free.You DO NOT need to enroll it - an unenrolled deed poll is perfectly acceptable for changing your passport, driving licence, bank account etc etc etc.
No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...1 -
As above, you can call yourself whatever you want, the challenge is getting people to accept it. In principle your wedding certificate could be enough without having to need to bother with a Deed Poll, at the end of the day it doesn't say what your new name will be yet people use it to adopt their husbands name, their wife's name, blend the two names etc.
Its been a while since I last looked but there was a clear hierarchy of who needs what that says the order in which to make the changes... once you get the bottom one to accept the change the rest should just fall like dominos.0 -
Try the passport office first - if they accept the name change based on the certificate, then everything else will be easy, and you won’t need the deed poll.
if you do go down the deed poll route, then I’d advise enrolment. You don’t need to do it because as @trailingspouse says the deed poll itself is sufficient, but if it and any certified copies go astray, then you will have to do it all over again. If it is enrolled then you (or any potential children who need prove the name change, 20, 30 odd years down the line) can get a copy.0 -
bouicca21 said:Try the passport office first - if they accept the name change based on the certificate, then everything else will be easy, and you won’t need the deed poll.
if you do go down the deed poll route, then I’d advise enrolment. You don’t need to do it because as @trailingspouse says the deed poll itself is sufficient, but if it and any certified copies go astray, then you will have to do it all over again. If it is enrolled then you (or any potential children who need prove the name change, 20, 30 odd years down the line) can get a copy.I've done a deed poll but haven't enrolled it - it annoyed me that my husband would have to sign to say he consented to the name change; also the name changes and my address would be published in the London Gazette.Once you have passport and driving licence and bank accounts, etc, in your new name and there is a trail through birth and marriage certificates, I can't think of any circumstances where your identity couldn't be easily proven.0 -
Your marriage certificate is proof that your name has changed and you do not need Deed Poll/Change of Name Deed.
Simply apply to the Passport Office and DVLA for your passport and driving licence to be updated with your new name.
https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/name-marriage-and-civil-partnership
0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.5K Spending & Discounts
- 241K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.7K Life & Family
- 254.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards