Changing my surname via deed poll... advice and suggestions?

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

I've been thinking of changing my surname. I still have my ex-husband's and don't want to go back my maiden - both of them are hard to pronounce and spell - so I'd be choosing something totally new.

If anyone's done it, was it relatively easy to sort things out afterwards, or a pain in the butt? Will it be just like when I got married and sent my certificate off everywhere, or are there additional complications from a deed poll? I'm thinking stuff like credit checks, CRB checks (occasionally need these to access sensitive information for my job), etc?

Suggestions for my new surname also welcome.

[user1732578431456]

Nah, same process. Same as any name change. Just make a list of everywhere and sort in one go. Nobody cared it was a deed poll when I did mine, they just got on with the paperwork.

I put it off for a while because I couldn't face the admin but I'm so glad I sorted it. Genuinely was like a weight lifting not to always have to use a name I hated.

[user1732578431456]

The only other thing I would say is not to be conned into paying for a deed poll. It's not necessary just make sure it contains the correct words and is signed and witnessed correctly.

[pinkyredrose]

It's easy as anything, just send your change of name deed to the same people you sent your marriage certificate to.

[Eckhart]

Really really easy and quick. Deedpoll.com it was £30-something quid a few years ago.

I made the mistake of having the certificates posted to my new name, and missed the delivery (A4 certificates wouldn't fit through my letterbox), so I couldn't collect it from the Post Office because I didn't have any ID in the new name. I remember trying to explain that the proof was in the envelope they wouldn't give me

But apart from that, dead easy. Get a few certificates, let everyone know at once. You'll have it done in a fortnight.

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

Thank you all! user1732578431456 I was just reading about the types of deed poll and assuming enrolled would be better, so you've saved me £40.

[VienneseWhirligig]

I can't advise on prices having never done it but I know a few people who have. The new names I have loved particularly are:

Nightingale
Rainbow
Christmas

[VienneseWhirligig]

Process, not prices. I can't advise on those either

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

Those ar sweet, Viennese! I like the idea of going for a name that's also a general word, so I won't have to spell it all the time.

[Schleckie]

Super easy, I've done it. You can request multiple copies so you can send them off and get everything changed at the same time. My partner and I discussed getting a new, shared surname. We love literature so were thinking of an author we both liked, like Oscar Wilde. Maybe a favourite author might be an idea

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

That sounds like a great idea, how will you choose the name? I mean, if I was offered a list of 10 surnames I could definitely pick which I like the most or least but out of any name at all the choice would be mind-boggling. It's lucky I quite like my name I guess, I didn't change when I got married because I just didn't want to.

[BathTangle]

A couple of surnames I have come across and really like are Heaven and Gentle. Do you want a name that says something about you? Or where you're from?

[DavidsSchitt]

Christmas 🎄

[LongDistanceClaret]

How about looking at the 8 great grandparents names and picking one you like most?

If not, what about McQueen - quite a cool surname I’ve always thought.

Or Newton (reference the new) and everyone’s heard of Isaac.

[spookycookies]

Don't lose the paper. There is no record of it other than the piece of paper that you have. It's not like a marriage certificate where you can order a new one. Mine was changed for me when I was little and then lost and with no record it was really tricky to get my marriage license sorted.

[heidbuttsupper]

I love the surname Lomax

[LongDistanceClaret]

Also nominate Badger

[AlfonsoTheTerrible]

@LongDistanceClaret

Also nominate Badger

But then you'd have to change your first name to Honey.

[Starlightstarbright1]

I did this..

I did deem of name change - years ago.

I presented letter when i got married. Same with passport etc.

Witn the surname- i tried a few till one fit.

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

Hello, I'm Honey Badger

That sounds like a great idea, how will you choose the name?

I've been trawling through lists of surnames but it's HARD. I only want to do this once so I need to choose right.

Do you want a name that says something about you? Or where you're from?

My priorities are:

1. Easy to spell, so I don't need to spell it out (been doing this all my life)
   
2. Sounds nice
   
   I like nature-inspired names like Rivers, Snow, Forest... Badger. I'll probably go for something like that.

[dancemonkeys]

🦊

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

Snow is a lovely surname, I know a family with the surname Woods which is also a nature name.

[user1732578431456]

Hmm deed poll is just a way to evidence the name you use (there is no such thing as a legal name in E&W).

Once you get documents and records updated the only time you need to produce it is if you're presenting something with your old name on like a qualification and need to prove you're the same person.

So if someone wants a piece of paper to prove that although you now use the name SpongeBob you used to be known as Bob, and you have somehow lost the first one then find another witness to sign a piece of paper saying so or follow the guidance for someone who never bothered with a deed poll in the first place (you don't have to use one to change your name, it's just less hassle).

Thinking back, some places could not have cared less whether I could prove I'd changed my name and some were pickier about wanting the piece of paper.

The most awkward moment was one individual at one institution getting shitty and telling me "you can't just change your name because you feel like it" .

Well, 1) yes, I can, that's literally how it works, and 2) here is the piece of paper to prove it, please update my records.

So they stomped off and updated my records. That sixty second conversation was the most aggro I have ever had with the whole thing.

[user1732578431456]

Does it matter to you what initials you end up with?

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

I’m considering doing the same and choosing my mums maiden name, although it’s hard to spell, it’s lovely and would be a link to her, as she used it as her professional name all her life. At the moment I’m double barrelled with the ex - he changed his back when we split and the kids have all informally adopted one or the other name, rather than using both, so having both is pointless really!

I keep getting to the point of doing it and then realising that even my email address which is used for every bloody thing has my name in it, so not only do I have to change my name on everything I’ll have to change my email for every website I visit (even this one!) and then redo passwords etc - it’s a huuuge headache!

All those saying just send a certificate to everyone you sent your marriage cert to, for me that was 20+ years ago and i had a LOT fewer accounts and bills then! Christ, I don't think i even had a mobile phone back then!

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

Thank you to everyone who's replied. I feel much clearer about it all now.

user1732578431456 Not really. There's no letter you could add to my first two initials to make a funny word/acronym.