Changing surname post divorce

[LaBellaCinderella]

I’m planning ahead for when my decree absolute finally comes through!

I took my STBXH’s surname when I got married, we have two children and they both have that surname. Let’s say Crawford.

So my current name is Alice Beth Crawford.

My maiden name was a really common surname, eg. Jones.

I don’t really want to go back to jones. Firstly because it’s such a common surname, and secondly because I feel like going back to my old name is a step backwards. I’m not Alice Jones anymore, just as I’m not Alice Crawford either.

So, do I keep my married surname because it’s the same name as my children and also i hear it’s easier to travel with children if you have the same surname (they are 9 and 7)? Or do I go back to my maiden name? Do I give myself a new surname, and if so, what?! Or I could give myself a new surname and keep my married surname as a middle name - Alice Beth Crawford Donaldson?

It’s keeping my positive and distracted whilst I wait and wait for the DA!

Silly question, but in terms of bank accounts etc, if I am setting up my own business known as Alice Beth (29 just first name, middle name), but keep official name as Alice Crawford, how does that work with getting paid? Although I suppose everyone pays online now and it’s not as if I will be going into the bank with a cheque made out to First name middle name and the bank having an issue with it?

Are you setting up a business bank account too?

Just give people specific payment instructions with account name (ie business name), sort code, etc.

Lots of businesses have a different trading name to their legal name so I wouldn't think much of it.

Are you setting up a business bank account too?

I will be, yes

@LaBellaCinderella can you double barrel your DC names i.e. Jones Crawford so that you do share a last name? Would that make it easier to travel etc? Then you could go back to Jones?

I double barrelled mine when we got married but husband has stayed with his one surname - our baby on the way will have my maiden name as a middle name although I'd rather baby was double barrelled too. Might make him watch the birth to get my way 😂

I changed back to my maiden name, even though it's extremely common firstly because i was desperate to get rid of ex's horrible name (I would change dd's in a heartbeat if i could) and secondly because I love my dad very much and like having his name.

I grew up with a mom who carried a different surname, that part didn't phase me at all.

I have always said that if I got divorced I'd change my name to my mum's maiden name. Both my married name and maiden name are pretty run of the mill but my mum's maiden name is pretty different and nice.

Not divorced or planning it, but I like to have plans for every eventuality

I wouldn’t choose my mum’s maiden name. I guess I could choose another family name. But I’d be more tempted to just go first name middle name, those are my given names after all.