Name change advice

[Secretsout]

Looking for advice. I divorced over a year ago, still using married surname but now looking to change. I have 2 kids 18 and 16.

Thing is, i don't really like my maiden name so I'm thinking of changing to another family name (I've not previously been known by this). I'll do it by deed poll but a couple of questions......

1. Will I have a problem taking youngest kid on holiday as he is not 18 and we would have different names?
   
2. should i wait until youngest is 18 to avoid any problems with different names?
   
3. Would it be a problem to keep passport in married name if everywhere else was new name (only renewed passport last year and it will cost me £75 to change)
   
4. My ex pays maintenance direct to my bank account. I have no contact with him. Would I need to inform him of my name change?
   
   TIA

[AmyDowdensLeftLeftShoe]

If you keep your passport in a different lastname what other official proofs of ID do you have that proves your lastname?

Currently bank account names and account numbers aren't linked so there is no reason for telling anyone what name you go by. However if your children have contact directly or indirectly with their father then they are likely to mention you go by a new lastname. Reason being as it isn't your previous lastname but a seemly random one.

In regards to the 16 year old - it depends where they are going. In the past I've met 17 year olds traveling on their own.

Oh and I've been told that it's NHS records that frequently take the longest to up date by people I know who have changed names. So don't be surprised if you go to A&E in the next 2-3 years and they can't find you as they still have you down as your old lastname.