Both changing name?

so the boy & I have decieded to both double-barrell our surnames.  i *think* i understand the process for doing this, but would appreciate any feeback, etc.

(Note- we live in the UK, I'm on ILR, we're getting married in the US in June)

Timeline-
Mar-09.  Boy uses Deed Poll to change his name to our new double-barrelled surname
Mar/Apr-09.  Boy changes Passport to reflect new name.
Apr-09.  When we go to get marriage license in PA, he would use his birth certificate, deed poll, passport as identity docs.
June-09.  Get married.  (he would be travelling on new double-barrelled name, and me on my maiden name).
July-09.  I use our marriage certificate to change my SS card, passport, etc....

I'm not 100% sure if a deed poll is sufficent proof of change of name for him to get a marriage license.  Any idea if he needs a Stautory Declaration instead?

Also, we mentioned this idea to his parents who were confused but supportive.  His friends, on the other hand, have taken every opportunity to poke fun at him.  This is not a decision that either of us decided on lightly- and for his friends to make such of mockery of it, is very hurtful.  Any advice on how to muzzle them?

Meggles, as far as a deed poll being acceptable proof of name change to get a marriage license in the US, it would probably depend on the office that you went to, honestly.  The fear of not having UK name change docs accepted in the US without a whole lot of kerfluffle is one of the reasons I decided in the end to do a straight up "normal" last name change instead of what I really wanted to do with my name after marriage.  However, I think that if he has his passport in his new name, that will be crucial and will help a lot.  Honestly, I would ring up the county that you're getting married in and ask them if he needs to do anything extra- just to be sure.  I think it'll probably be okay, though.

Good for you for making such a decision. I have mockery for NOT taking my husband's name which really annoys me. Honestly, I have no real useful advice except to say that I *think* it's not uncommon in royal circles for men to take on their wives family names so I guess you could try to lighten it up that way.

My Ph.D. supervisor did the same thing with his wife. I think it's terribly romantic!

Problem.  You need to do a deed poll too.  You can only use your marriage certificate as proof if you are doing a straight swap from Meggles Maidenname to Meggles Marriedname.  For Meggles Maidenname-Marriedname, you need to do the deed poll. (in UK law)

I'm just keeping my name, and I don't think it is going to go down well.


Vicky

Vicky- but if he changed his name before the wedding and so when she got married she was actually getting married to MrMeggles Hislast-Herlast and not MrMeggles Hislast, why wouldn't she be able to use her marriage certificate as proof of name change to Hislast-Herlast (for example?) It would seem logical that Hislast-Herlast would become her married name, just like if he had already had a hyphenated name from birth.

thanks springhaze- i was starting to think my logic was flawed (entirely possible)

*Memo to Self - don't post on anything complicated when ill and drugged up on lemsip*

On reflection, yes, this is a great idea, and will of course work.  Sorry for being an idiot!


Vicky

no worries!  lemsip, 6 coffees, 3 hours sleep- all have the same effect, eh?

hope you feel better!

For name changes with regards to US passports, the US Embassy says:

Note: In the United Kingdom, there are varying forms for name changes. However, the only acceptable document for a U.S. passport name change is a Statutory Declaration which has been executed in accordance with the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. This document must be signed by the applicant in the presence of a solicitor administering the oath; the document will be sealed by that official. The document should be signed thus: "Janet Doe formerly Janet Smith."

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/namechange.html

Probably not applicable in this situation, but just for further reference.

Thanks for the link.  When we had thought that I was going to change my name to (Myfirst MyMaiden HisLast), I was going to have to do a Statutory Declaration. 

I'm leaning towards just doing a Statutory Declaration for the Boy.  No wobbles them...

Also, we mentioned this idea to his parents who were confused but supportive.  His friends, on the other hand, have taken every opportunity to poke fun at him.  This is not a decision that either of us decided on lightly- and for his friends to make such of mockery of it, is very hurtful.  Any advice on how to muzzle them?

You've received some useful advice on the first part of your post, and for the part I've quoted, I'd suggest that you can't muzzle friends, but you can choose not to let them "get" to you.

Remember that a lot of teasing is light hearted and is just banter - no harm intended.  And sometimes, it is people's reflections of their own insecurities, so don't let that get to you. 

I think a lot of the banter in the UK is really just verbal jousting - they say something clever and you say something clever right back, it's all part of the game.  So if you can't beat 'em (or muzzle them), then join them in the fun.  Just have a few quips at the ready, or (even better) let your spontaneous sense of humour do its thing when the time comes.

Personally speaking, I have not legally changed my surname - I use DH's surname socially, as well as his middle name when we are having a laugh together.  We joke about me being greedy and taking his middle name as well as his surname (usually after a few glasses of wine) when I refer to myself as "Firstname Mymiddlename Hismiddlename Hissurname" in jest - yes, in those instances, omitting my legal surname which is still my maiden name!

update-

please note this is only applicable to those getting married in PA soon- i'd advise you to call your particular county for their particular info.

the boy & I are getting married in Philadelphia County in June 09.  We both only need passport & (driving license or birth certificate).  It's a heck of a lot easier if both items are the same name. 

So- the boy will change his name by deed poll.
then net a new passport & driving license with new last name (mylast-hislast)

Viola!  Simple enough!

I wish we had thought of this when we got married.

In the end, I kept mine and he didn't change his, either. And we were living in a third country at the time, i.e. not my country or his country, so name changes seemed to be a pain.