I'm married: How does my name change work?

Hi, married 9 January and applying for visa in-person at Glasgow Public Enquiries Office on the 31st. This thread (http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=19139.msg222425#msg222425) brought up this question for me:

Do I need to do something official to change my name? The registrar told me, the week before we got hitched, that I could just start conducting business under my married name, but is he incorrect - do I need to do something else to officially change it here in the UK?

Related subquestions: Should I submit my FLR(M) visa application under my maiden or married name? Will my 2-year spouse visa be issued in my maiden name or my married name? Should the supporting documents I am getting be under my maiden or married name?

Cheers!

This here (http://www.weddingguide.co.uk/articles/legal/changingnameadvise.asp) seems to say what I actually do is advise folks - meaning all the folks I am toting the wedding cert to anyway can record me under the new name.

Do I need to do something official to change my name? The registrar told me, the week before we got hitched, that I could just start conducting business under my married name, but is he incorrect - do I need to do something else to officially change it here in the UK?

He's right about conducting business in your married name, or at least that was my experience.  I was known as Lola Married here long before I ever changed my name on my SS card (needed the two to match for tax purposes).

Related subquestions: Should I submit my FLR(M) visa application under my maiden or married name? Will my 2-year spouse visa be issued in my maiden name or my married name? Should the supporting documents I am getting be under my maiden or married name?

Your FLR will be issued in whatever name is in your passport.  I think I submitted mine (ILR) as LOLA MAIDEN MARRIED.  As my passport is still in my maiden name, my ILR says LOLA MAIDEN.  Doesn't matter what name your supporting documents are in as there's a clear link between your maiden and married name on your marriage certificate.

The only thing you need to do (if you want to) is change your name on your bank accounts, utility bills and the like. Most banks etc will ask to see your marriage certificate for this purpose. Otherwise you just start calling youself Mrs Married as Lola says.

I started calling myself Mrs. Married socially after I got married, but didn't change my name at work, UK bank account, utility bills, etc., till after I'd got my National Insurance card, which was a few months after I got married.

I am still Ms. Maiden on my passport, FLR, all my credit cards, SS card, US bank accounts and everything else in the US.

When I went to register Courtney I didnt know whether to put my maiden name or married name on her birth certificate, the woman told me that even though my passport is in my maiden name, I am still able to use my married name legally.

I don't know how it works elsewhere, but in New York, your child's surname can be any name you want. Naming it after a parent is just traditional. Just an interesting thing I once read.