Has anyone else's DP taken on your surname (to make a double barrel)?

[Margofthebride]

Not sure if that makes sense as a sentence but both myself and my fiancée want to take on each others surnames and double barrel them. He read somewhere that he should change his name by deed poll before the wedding, otherwise I would be starting married life as "Mrs dp-surname" and then we'd both have to change by deed poll. We're a bit confused about the whole process and I wondered if anyone had done this and could advise.

It would just seem really weird for loads of our guests to wonder why the registrar is asking if I will take "DPsurname - OPsurname" as my lawful wedded husband. Unless we send out a mass text to let everyone know before hand?

TIA

It's not the law that you become Mrs DH's surname the moment that you get married. Just ask the registrar/vicar to say something like "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the new Mr and Mrs Your Surname-His Surname" then everyone there will know that's your choice and you can do his deed poll ASAP afterwards

You’re confused. Getting married has no legal effect on your surname whatsoever. If you are both changing your surnames to include the other’s, just do that after your wedding.

Personally regardless of deed pool, the registrar will call you what you tell them/what is on the banks or registration documents.

DH surname will you take OP surname.....please welcome Mr and Mrs OPsurname-DHsurname

Deed poll after the wedding.

We did this.

As a woman your name is automatically whatever you declare it to be after marriage including keeping your previous name or making up a new name that is an anagram of both surnames. The marriage certificate acts as a free "you don't need a deed poll" card.

For him - he doesn't need a deed poll either, a self-declaration that he is hereby abandoning all previous names and is henceforth to be known only as (insert name here) - signed by both him and by two witnesses. You can Google for exact wording. Easiest thing in the world to pre-prepare the relevant bits of paper and have them on the table at the same time as the signing of the register during the wedding ceremony so the marriage witnesses witness that one too.

FossiPajuZeka this sounds ideal! But is it all legal and official this way? We read somewhere that we had to get a solicitor and deed poll in order for his surname to be legally changed?

And you've just reminded me... We haven't even thought about witnesses yet

The wording you need is :

I (old name) of (your address) have given up my name (old name) and have adopted for all purposes the name (new name).

Signed as a deed on (date) as (old name) and (new name) in the presence of (witness 1 name) of (witness 1 address), and (witness 2 name) of (witness 2 address)

(your new signature), (your old signature)

(witness 1 signature), (witness 2 signature)

Yes it is entirely legal. The law allows anyone to adopt a new name at any time and start using it, you only need something in writing in order to get names changed on official documents like driving licences and for that a diy route is fine.

It is possible that some organisations (who are misinformed but too bureaucratic to understand) may not accept the diy option. Certainly DVLA and the Passport Office are happy to accept this diy route, and certainly natwest bank did 18 years ago (but could have changed their policy since) but it might be wise to check with the bank in advance. I would suggest DH2B should draw up the document as above with details filled in, and send in a query saying that he understands that the attached document, once signed, will act as a fully legal declaration for name change purposes but wishes to check with them that it will be accepted to ensure that there are no issues when the time comes.

This is so helpful, Fossi. Thank you.

We were worried about having to pay out for solicitors fees and the actual deed poll etc so this is an ideal solution to all that. Plus faff factor is much lower too!

I just spoke to the registrar who said she'd never heard of this self declaration to be signed at the wedding, shes gone off to speak to her superior about it and is coming back to me. She asked me who gave me the information and I said a stranger on the internet

Yes, we got married in Florida in December, and have both gone double barelled using both our surnames.

You don't need to do a deed poll, or a self declaration. We have got new passports, driving licence, changed bank accounts etc all by sending off our marriage licence. I suppose if you are both adopting an entirely new name (for example, you were Smith, they were Jones, but you've decided to both become Green) then it might be a different matter, but for Smith-Jones, they can easily see from your marriage certificate/licence/legal document that you both had the existing names and have simply put them together.

We have had no problems with this at all (other than the Post Office defacing one of our certified copies, but that is another story).

The registrar has said they won't accept the self declaration and that DP will have to change his name by deedpoll. She said they used to sign off self declarations years ago but that has stopped.

I keep reading and hearing conflicting information.

DP convinced we need to hire a solicitor for deedpoll. I don't believe so from what I've read.

Confusing.

Definitely get his name changed first, then you will only have to do a deed poll for him and then you can take his surname (which would be the double barrelled new one) via marriage certificate.
If you don't, you will both have to do a deed poll after the wedding (waste of time and money).

I have just taken on a double barrelled surname after getting married and the marriage certificate was not enough to double barrel our surnames (despite them both being individually used on the marriage certificate). If you combine 2 names in any form or double barrel, you need a change of name deed

SenoraSurf - the registrar told me that even if I marry my DP while he just has his surname, I can still just change my name on the wedding certificate on the day - adding his surname to mine. But he can't so the same. She recommended he get the deedpoll AFTER the wedding??

My DH took my name when we married, he changed it via deedpol after the wedding it was all very simple.

That's I'll advice as all your supporting documents for the marriage certificate will determine the name they legally have to use and give notice of marriage for prior to the wedding. In simple terms, if you prove your identity for your marriage using a water bill and your passport, the name they will use in the marriage certificate is the one you have on the bill and passport. Your new surname on the marriage certificate will be your new husbands (but it is obviously your cxhoice whether you take this on as your name or not).
I know how you feel as I've had all this pillaba the last 18 months and have only just got everything sorted in our new double barrelled surnames!
If I were you, get a change of name deed printed using an online template for your husband and get it signed by a witness.
Call up one of your utility suppliers or doctors surgery and change your husbands name (they may wish to see a copy of the change of name deed to do this- my doctors did and changed it then and there). You then send off your change of name deed and a bill or doctors appointment letter (I used my maternity appointment letter in my new double barrelled name) to passport office which proves you are using your new name. Your husband will then be able to get a new passport in his new double barrelled name. I then changed name on drivers licence and banks as was easy once I had passport in double barrelled name. Once you've done that, your husband can give notice of marriage to you at the registry office under the new double barrelled name. This means once you marry, you can take on his surname with the marriage certificate but it'll actually be the double barrelled surname you're taking on (then you change all your identity and bills etc using the marriage certificate as evidence of name change).

Hope that makes sense - it's super complicated and there is lots of conflicting advice. The previous comments on this posts are giving you incorrect/outdated advice so please be careful. And don't pay for a deed poll! Use and online template for an unenrolled deed poll as they are accepted!

*ill advice

passport bit is fine

www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/name-marriage-and-civil-partnership

I'm very surprised that all of you have trouble with this.

It isn't the law that the wife has to take the husband's surname, therefore there is absolutely no reason why the husband should have any more trouble going double barrelled than the wife.

I would be challenging any company who agreed to change my surname but not my husband's as to why they were so sexist and discriminating my husband because of his gender! It is 2020, not the 1950's!

If you look on the gov site for passports it tells you all you need to know - you or your husband DO NOT need to change your name by deed poll.
www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information/name-marriage-and-civil-partnership

As I said, our experience is very recent (December), and neither of us have had any trouble at all with changing our surnames with any government, financial, legal or any other companies.

I've been married once before, 20 years ago, and the marriage certificate I got from the church had both our maiden names on, as this is the name you use to get married. Nowhere on it does it have your new surname. Has this changed?? 20 years ago my then husband also went double barelled after the marriage, and again, had no problem in obtaining new passport, driving licence etc.

I am not doubting what other posters are saying, however I suggest you look at the .gov site for passport and driving licence where it is very clear.

Just spoke to a bloke at work who did this...and yes...Senora you are absolutely right in what you say. He doesn't need to do deedpoll. There is a template document which renounces the old name and you get 2 professionals to sign it. Then go about informing the relevent bodies ie. bank, passport etc. It was really that simple, he said he had no issues. The name is changed before the wedding and free of charge.

Sheep - my colleague basically just said the same!

Margo, phew, glad it isn't just me and we've just had some amazing luck compared to others! Thought I was going mad! When I was looking at the .gov site for passports there is a form you fill in if you want the new passports before you are married, can do this up to 3 months ahead, and do need to get the registrar or whoever to sign. If you do it afterwards though, you literally just send in your marriage certificate as proof.

I thought we might have problems as in Florida, they don't even give you the original marriage licence, they keep it there for their own records. You are given a stamped certified copy, so it is basically treated as an original. You can also buy more copies if you want (we ended up with 5 copies so we could do a few name changes at once). Thought this may be an issue, as they essentially look like a photocopy with an official stamp on, but they were absolutely fine. Both passports back within a week, same with driving licence.

Good luck for the wedding by the way!

The deedpoll form doesn't need a solicitor and doesnt need to be done first. Personally, for the sake of ceremony and official wotsits I would;

Print off two deedpoll forms. Get married under your current names. Have the deadpoll forms pre filled with the same witnesses who are witnessing the marriage. Marry, sign register, witnesses sign register, sign deedpolls, witnesses sign deedpolls. Registrar announces Mr and Mrs two-names. That way it's official and legal plus you both become new names on your wedding day at your wedding together.

Seems simple and poetic to me. If you're into that sort if thing you could make a nice display of marriage cert and deedpolls all neatly done with same date etc.

Buffering... I asked the registrar of we could get the deed poll form signed by the witnesses and registrar on the day... She said no.

Maybe I should call again on another day and ask someone else!!

One google search and voila

If you're both changing your name, do it after the wedding as you would if just you were changing your name. Registrar introduces you as Mr and Mrs (or whatever titles you want to use or just first names) YourSurname-HisSurname.

You get the legal bits sorted after.

I asked the registrar of we could get the deed poll form signed by the witnesses and registrar on the day.

I haven't bothered to actually read the deed poll website information I gave you, but for pity's sake. If that's all you have to do and it's so important to you to make it legal the minute you're married, then 10 minutes after the service you sidle off into a corner, and get someone to sign as witness for you. You don't need the registrar's permission!?