Changing your name

What happens if you haven't changed your name when you were married? We were married in the good ol' registry office...but the topic of changing names never was brought up.  I don't want to do it right now, just curious as to what happens.

Anyone know?

Under English law, you don't need to change your name by deed poll if you want to use your husband's name when you marry - the marriage certificate acts as evidence of name change.  So, in effect, you can legally use your married name from the moment you marry, or you can continue with your maiden name, or you can use both in different circumstances if you wish.  It's entirely up to you.  The only thing is that any visas issued will always be in the name which is on your passport.

Vicky

Interesting! So I can just decide at any time to use my husband's name? So different from the US, where I believe you have to go to the courthouse and officially change it.

Thanks!

No it's the same in the US - you don't have to go to the court and change it.  You just start using it and change whatever documents you want as you go along - passport, driver's license, bank accounts, etc.

When I was in the US over Christmas, I used my English marriage certificate to change the name on my licence with no problems. 

My husband and I want to take each other's surnames as second middle names, but I'm intimidated by all of the paperwork, and afraid of screwing up my UK visa process. Eventually, I'd like both passports to have my new name (when I get my second passport, that is). I'm just sending in my FLR this week, so still have a ways to go before my IRL and naturalization.

i got it that if you want to change your name from

first middle maiden
to
first middle hislast

then you don't need to do a deed poll here in the UK.

but what if you want to go from:

first middle maiden
to
first maiden hislast

Deed Poll Required?

I'm currently considering going from First Middle Mylast to First Middle MylastAs2ndMiddle Hislast...and from what I can tell I'd need to do a deed poll in the UK to have that be my official legal name after marriage.  Not sure if deed polls are recognised in the US, though...

here's a link that's quite helpful:
http://www.ukdps.co.uk/AWomansRightsUponMarriage.html

here's a list of what i will have to change when/if i get married... reference for others:

Name Change

UK Deed Poll Change - http://www.ukdps.co.uk/, must be done first
US Social Security- http://www.ssa.gov/, Form SS-5, show US passport, marriage certificate, deed poll, form requires Mom & Dad's social security number. Federal Benefits Unit
American Embassy
24/31 Grosvenor Square
W1A 2LQ London
England
Phone: 44-207-499-9000
Passport- US Embassy- http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/amendindex.html
US Driving Licence- http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/, must show amended US passport, amended social security card, birth certificate, US Bank account with address, marriage certificate, deed poll decree, emailed 10-Mar-06 to confirm

UK National Insurance- phone my tax office
UK NHS- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Inland Revenue- phone my tax office
UK Broadband-  phone ask if letter must be sent
UK BT- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Telephone- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Gas/Electric- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Water- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK TV Licensing- online with licence number, www.tvlicensing.co.uk
UK HM Land Registry- send letter with copy of marriage certificate to the following address: Land Registry, Peterborough Office, Touthill Close,City Road, Peterborough,PE1 IXN
UK Council Tax- http://www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/, phone to change to new name
UK Life Insurance- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK House Insurance- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Medical Excemption- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Bank- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Credit Card- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Health Insurance- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Employer- inform
UK 2nd Credit Car- phone ask if letter must be sent
UK Driving Licence- send with form D1, send US passport (with old name) and dead poll decree
US Employer- inform
US Bank- inform
US Health Insurance- inform
US Bank 2nd- inform
US HS Alumni- change online
US Doctor- inform

My address:
 
Dear Sirs,
Account No. / Policy No. / National Insurance No. / Ref No.

I wish to advise you that following my change of name by Deed Poll, my name has changed from Meghann middle maiden to Meghann maiden hislast.  Please amend your records accordingly.

Please find enclosed a copy of my Deed Poll. If you require sight of the original, or require further information, please let me know.

Best regards,
meggles maiden hislast

Holy Crap! Now I'm even more intimidated!

Here's what we want to do...

Me: My First - Middle - His Last as another Middle Name - My Last
Him: His First - Middle - My Last as another Middle Name - His Last

It's not quite double-barrelling, because unless we include our middle names (initial or full) our signatures will remain the same. He'll still be Mr. L, and I'll still be Ms. D. But because it will involve both of us changing our names, I'm really wary of it eventually causing problems when it comes time to file for the ILR and naturalization. But then again, I don't know if it'll cause more problems with all of the passport stuff to have let it sit for three years...

And does anyone know how long I can keep my CA driving license? And should any new things I apply for (like  UK driver's license, or a job) be done with my new name? Or would that also create more problems when it comes time for the ILR?

In Canada you only ASSUME your husband's name.  I took his name and use it on everything, including my passport/visa.  My legal name is still my maiden name. 

I have kept my maiden name as part of my assumed name (mostly as an initial) just to keep things confusing for the people receiving my form.

So my passport says:  MrsPink, middlename, maidenname, hislastname

I have never run across any problems, just some minor confusion.

In Canada you only ASSUME your husband's name.  I took his name and use it on everything, including my passport/visa.  My legal name is still my maiden name. 

Hey MrsPink, that is my "learned something new every day" fact for today (only a few hours left, so good thing that)!  I can't believe how little I learned about Canada in my 29 years in the US, shame really.  I do remember taking a business trip to Calgary and getting cultural differences lessons, as though the Canadians were *so different* - in hindsight, that was very funny given the vast cultural differences I have encountered since that trip.  The only thing I noticed about the Canadians was how nice everyone was - and I thought I was from a generally friendly state (Texas) but the folks in Calgary were sooooooo friendly, laid back and nice, it was wonderful.

Anyway, I recently got married and have been "assuming" my husband's name, such as by changing my email address at work and just calling myself by it, but my paycheck is still being paid into the bank account with my maiden name on it that I do not plan to change, just for reasons that it's too complicated - if I change one thing legally I reckon I have to change it all and I would have a lot of accounts to change in two different countries and my passport containing my ILR sticker, so I am not changing any of my legal documents or credit cards, etc., at least not anytime soon.

Under English law, you don't need to change your name by deed poll if you want to use your husband's name when you marry - the marriage certificate acts as evidence of name change.  So, in effect, you can legally use your married name from the moment you marry, or you can continue with your maiden name, or you can use both in different circumstances if you wish.  It's entirely up to you.  The only thing is that any visas issued will always be in the name which is on your passport.

Vicky

That is some of the best news I've heard.  I have been a bit leary about changing my name, especially at work.  It's good to know I can use both when and where I want.  Thanks yet again, Vicky.  You always seem to have the answers!

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

Under 7:

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."

For a "complete" name change to a US passport, i.e. addition of a "new" middle name, deed poll is not accepted.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family/change_of_name.htm