Forenames swapped on Will

polar_pig

I'm applying for probate online after my mother's death. The Will uses my name as on my birth certificate: Alan Brian Curtis (made up name)
However my parents started calling me Brian Alan Curtis. I've now got NI number, passport, driving license, bank accounts etc. all as Brian Alan Curtis. I almost never need to provide a birth certificate for anything, so usually not a problem.

Filling out the online form, I've put my name as Brian Alan Curtis, stated that this is different to the Will and in the explanation put "Parents swapped my forenames after birth register" The online form limits the text to 50 chars.

Might this cause a problem, either getting probate or administering the estate afterwards?

Thanks for any help.

polar_pig

I've had an idea!

It seems you can change your name by "unenrolled deed poll", writing, printing and signing it yourself and getting it signed by two witnesses.

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

You can legally use the deed poll immediately as proof of your new name without submitting it anywhere.

That could swap my forenames from that on my birth certificate and as used in my mother's will to the name I have for my passports and all other official documents.

I can then edit my probate application and tick the box that says I've changed my name by deed poll. This would be totally true and a more concise answer that probably needs no further explanation.

Anyone see any problem with that?

JGB1955

I would just say 'BAC, also known as ABC'.

polar_pig

JGB1955 said:

I would just say 'BAC, also known as ABC'.

Thanks for that. I agree that should of been sufficient.

I've decided to tick the 'name change by deed poll' box. Doing so in the online form doesn't seem to require any further explanation. If they later require come back requiring proof I'll send them a copy of the deed, a copy of the government procedure to generate the deed and details of my passport using the 'new' name.

I've found this probate forum very useful whilst I've been going through sorting Mum's will, so for the benefit of others, I'll report back on any issues that occur as a result of my decision.

Gers

I've never been known by my first name, everything is in what I suppose is my middle name - passport, DL, bank accounts, DWP for SP etc etc. Even my parents didn't use my birth certificate first name, no official body has asked about it. When I did Confirmation for my late mother the issue didn't arise.

I doubt many people know of my abberant first name and they won't unless they get access to my birth certificate after I'm gone. Not that it's dreadful, just not ever used. I suspect that one of my parents thought it would be a good idea whilst the other didn't. It's a long time ago now!

polar_pig

@ Gers

Your situation sounds very similar to mine. I don't think I knew the names were the other way around on my BC till I was about 10. When writing their will they must have thought it would make things easier using the name order in the BC, but actually I Don't think it has.

The NHS is the only organisation that uses my name as on the BC. This hasn't been a problem for 65 years, but a couple of years ago, going on holiday abroad, it meant that the name on my Covid vaccination certificate didn't match my passport. I imagined not being allowed out of the airport, but fortunately nobody noticed!

user1977

The fact you've got ID (with date of birth) in both versions probably helps (unless someone is concerned that you've got a secret twin brother...)

Nearlyold

My Grandparents gave my Uncle (my dad 's brother) the christian name(s) "Gordon Frederick William" but only ever called him Peter or Pete as did all his other relations. No idea why.

polar_pig

I knew having my forenames reversed on the will was going to cause problems with probate!

The probate office have come back and said that I'm a "substitute executor" and that I can't apply for probate and one of the other named executors must apply in my place. Note that there are no named "substitute executors" in the will.

In my declaration on the application it says:

I, 'Brian Alan Curtis', an executor named in the will as 'Alan Brian Curtis', am applying for probate. My name is different because I changed my name by deed poll."

Looks like I'll have to phone them Monday.

Anybody else been told by the probate office that they are a "substitute executor" because the name on the application doesn't match the will?