Quick name change Q- maiden name to middle name

What about leaving your maiden name on your passport but changing it for everything else?

I thought about that, but I'd really rather have all of my ID in the same name.  Just a personal preference, really. 

I've also considered not changing my name legally and just going by FH's last name anyway, but I don't know how that would fly at work or if it'll just be too weird.

actually, Julie, peedal is right- the US Embassy in London will not accept any other UK name change document but a statutory declaration for a change that isn't just a simple surname change due to marriage.  It's right there on their website:

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 [nofollow]

Americans can certainly use deed polls to change their name on other UK documentation, but for a US passport the only UK name change document you can use is a statutory declaration (again, this is only if you're doing a name change for which a marriage certificate alone will not suffice.)

Yet again, more unqualified and inaccurate information. The wording of a statutory declaration is no different to the wording of a Deed Poll.

I am not prepared to engage with people who do not have sufficient knowledge to know what they are talking about any more. I should know about the law pertaining to a change of name because I practice it five days per week, moreover, I contact the US embassy some time ago in order to clarify this for a client.

All good wishes with your forum.

Julie

Not sure how a direct quote from the US embassy website is unqualified information.

Oh well.

The direct quote from the website provides that to change your name on US documentation you must use a stat. dec - which, as I clearly outlined before, is no different to a Deed Poll. The wording is exactly the same - however, the individual would need to have the deed executed in the presence of a solicitor.

Is the clarification thereof sufficent?

Julie

I thought about that, but I'd really rather have all of my ID in the same name.  Just a personal preference, really. 

I've also considered not changing my name legally and just going by FH's last name anyway, but I don't know how that would fly at work or if it'll just be too weird.

Hiya

I note that you just seem to be going round in circles here...

Firstly, send an e-mail to michelle.anderson@thelegaldeedservice.org.uk with your e-mail address and I will instruct her to write you a statutory declaration -free of charge, on the proviso, that you return to this forum and make clear to those that have left unqualified misleading messages - just how simple the process was.

Shell will e-mail the statutory decaration to you (office closes at 5pm today) - which you must take to a local Solicitor and have him sign it. Because the Solicitor will not be writing the declaration for you - he will probably charge you about £10/£15 to witness the oath.

Alternatively, give a professional a call 0845 399 85 87 - lines are open 9/5pm Monday/Saturday. Inform the operator that you have been referred by Julie Raynard and you will be offered no obligation professional assistance.

All good wishes,

Julie

The direct quote from the website provides that to change your name on US documentation you must use a stat. dec - which, as I clearly outlined before, is no different to a Deed Poll. The wording is exactly the same - however, the individual would need to have the deed executed in the presence of a solicitor.

Is the clarification thereof sufficent?

Julie

to be honest, Julie, it really doesn't matter in my situation because the end result is the same whatever you call the actual document.  I think my biggest hangup is that I don't really want to deal with using a UK name change document to change my US non-passport documentation: ie, my Texas drivers license, US bank accounts and US naturalization certificate.  I'm sure I could get everyone to accept it once I did the proper legalisation etc, but man, what a hassle.  I already have to deal with immigration bureaucracy, I'd rather not deal with complications in name changing as well!

eta: just seen your latest post Julie, thanks for the offer!  I would just do the statutory declaration if I didn't have to worry about my US documentation (since I want all of my ID to be in the same name)...I guess I'm just worried that I'll have a hard time getting the statutory declaration accepted back in the States (especially in small town Texas where I have to go to renew my drivers license!)

Hello again

Buy a Deed Poll £10.00 - change all your UK documentation.

Then buy a Change of Name Deed $39.95 which is accepted in America http://www.texasnamechangelaw.com/ [nofollow] - use this to change your passport in the US.

Ju

Hello again
Then buy a Change of Name Deed $39.95 which is accepted in America http://www.texasnamechangelaw.com/ - use this to change your passport in the US.

The legal name change process in Texas is a little bit more involved than just a document you order and sign- it involves getting your fingerprints from the police station, filing the application with the county clerk, going to court and getting a judge to sign off on the name change and issue a court order to that effect. The process really isn't practical for someone living in the UK, so unless I can somehow afford to take an extended holiday in the US sometime soon, it's not really an option right now.  But maybe I'll be in the US long enough to swing it someday in the future, I don't know.  I think I need to decide how badly I want to change my middle name!

Yet again, more unqualified and inaccurate information. The wording of a statutory declaration is no different to the wording of a Deed Poll.

I am not prepared to engage with people who do not have sufficient knowledge to know what they are talking about any more. I should know about the law pertaining to a change of name because I practice it five days per week, moreover, I contact the US embassy some time ago in order to clarify this for a client.

All good wishes with your forum.

Julie

Your "goodwill" offer to springhaze notwithstanding, this was just plain rude.

Your "goodwill" offer to springhaze notwithstanding, this was just plain rude.

Especially to those of us with legal qualifications who have given advice on this thread. 

To start, I'm unqualified in every respect possible.  This is not intended as advice.

When I got married in the US in 1994 I changed my name to Firstname, Maidenname (instead of middle name), Marriedname.  I've never even heard of deed polls or statutory declarations.  I just wrote my new name on the marriage license, changed name at Social Security, changed name on driver's license, got passport in new name. 

To start, I'm unqualified in every respect possible.  This is not intended as advice.

When I got married in the US in 1994 I changed my name to Firstname, Maidenname (instead of middle name), Marriedname.  I've never even heard of deed polls or statutory declarations.  I just wrote my new name on the marriage license, changed name at Social Security, changed name on driver's license, got passport in new name. 

Personal experience is the best qualification you can have. I say that as a qualified person. 

Hiya

I note that you just seem to be going round in circles here...

Firstly, send an e-mail to michelle.anderson@thelegaldeedservice.org.uk with your e-mail address and I will instruct her to write you a statutory declaration -free of charge, on the proviso, that you return to this forum and make clear to those that have left unqualified misleading messages - just how simple the process was.

Shell will e-mail the statutory decaration to you (office closes at 5pm today) - which you must take to a local Solicitor and have him sign it. Because the Solicitor will not be writing the declaration for you - he will probably charge you about £10/£15 to witness the oath.

Alternatively, give a professional a call 0845 399 85 87 - lines are open 9/5pm Monday/Saturday. Inform the operator that you have been referred by Julie Raynard and you will be offered no obligation professional assistance.

All good wishes,

Julie

Julie, no offence, but what are your qualifications to offer this service? I could not locate anyone of this name on the register of the Law Society of England and Wales.  Is your qualification from another jurisdiction? No problem if it is, but I'd just like to be straight about things as you seem to have an issue with the advice given by others here.

By the way, anyone thinking of using the company Julie has recommended, I have done some checking around and they are not a law firm, therefore they are not regulated by the Law Society. Also, they apparently have an "affiliate program" which people can join and then get paid for promoting the compnay on forums such as this.

None of which helps Andrea with her question! I do think you need a deed poll for UK purposes but for getting your US documents changed, I don't know. I would go with what Peedal and the others have said.

springhaze- if/when i get married i want to do the same thing- i wrote up a guide for myself- hopefully it's helpful to you.