Using Maiden name when I'm married

[FlusteredDuster]

I have been married for 5 years and have everything in my married name (passport, bank accounts etc).

Can I still use my maiden name for business use (to be less traceable online etc) as well as my married name?
I want to register some things in my maiden name to keep them separate (not for tax reasons or anything) Is that legal? or has my name changed for everything now?

[Collaborate]

The short answer is that you can do this, but it will be hard to keep things in your maiden name if you can't evidence your identity (so, passport or driving license).

[MongerTruffle]

You can use any name you want (literally any name) without having to legally change it unless you do it for malicious purposes. Realistically, you won't be able to do much, as you won't be able to prove your identity.

[FlusteredDuster]

So if I start by getting a bank account in my maiden name what else should I get, as a form of ID, that would be an equivalent of a passport or driving licence?
Would it need to be a photo ID?

[eeanne]

I use my maiden name professionally and have had no problems. However when I sign legal documents I use my married name as that matches my passport etc. I also kept my maiden name as part of my full name so I can prove it’s me regardless.

[MongerTruffle]

Would it need to be a photo ID?
Yes, unless you still have a bank account with that same bank in your maiden name.

[RatRolyPoly]

How will you get a bank account in your maiden name without ID/utility bills etc. in that name?

[FlusteredDuster]

It's not for anything dodgy or malicious, I need to register something on an openly searchable database (for my business) but not for it to be easily linked back to me.

[WatchingFromTheWings]

I use both names for no reason other than I couldn’t be bothered changing everything to my married name! So licence and passport are in married name (double barrelled actually), and a lot of other things (catalogue accounts, kids school, etc) still in maiden name.

And I still have a credit card in my first married name.

[FlusteredDuster]

I was thinking that if I went to the bank I have used with my maiden name and married name with an old bank statement (in my maiden name) and my marriage certificate, and I hold an account there under my married name (and have my driving licence in my married name with me), I should have covered most bases?

[VodkaPenne]

When I next changed my passport, under notes I had added “also known as ....”

That means my passport can be used to prove either identity.

My driving license is maiden name. My banks are married name.

Never had any issues.

As above, it’s perfectly legal as long as you are not doing it for fraud or anything.

[eeanne]

There is never a problem proving your maiden name - it's on your birth certificate!

[PinkTiger]

There is never a problem proving your maiden name - it's on your birth certificate!

There is if you need photo ID!

I know people who have run into difficulties having changed all ID to married name.

[FlusteredDuster]

The photo ID is my problem, I am thinking that if I get the 'also known as' added to my passport then I would have photo ID with my maiden name on?

[user4321]

I changed passport and driving licence but still use my maiden name often. As another poster said, I have a note on my passport that states 'holder is also known as Firstname Maidensurname. I show that if I ever need to prove identity for where I've used maiden name. I have bank accounts in both names (changed one, not the other) but they are both at the same bank and the bank still happy to issue one of the debit cards in maiden name so I can use that too)

[user4321]

I also kept hold of my old driving licence card which shows maiden name. I know you're meant to sent it back though.

[VodkaPenne]

@FlusteredDuster yes, do that on your passport. It’s really important and useful to have both names in there.

[FlusteredDuster]

Thank you all for your replies. My first plan is to get my passport renewed and go from there.

It seems odd that as legally you can be known as both a passport doesn't automatically detail your maiden name.

[rizlett]

My bank wouldn't even allow me to remove one of my christian names from the accounts without me having to legally change it by deed poll. [although I did just download a free deedpoll form and do it that way.]

[SecretSmellies]

I use both names. My Dl and passport are in maiden and pretty much everything else is married. If I need to show identity I take passport and my marriage certificate. It has never been a problem anywhere, except for once when I was getting euros out of the post office and the post mistress (who is well known in our village for being officious and rude) told me that it 'was illegal' to not use your married name and she was under an obligation to report me 'to the authorities'.

She was re-educated firmly but politely.