Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Changing name after marriage - do I need to change it everywhere?

14 replies

WTF0ver · 03/10/2019 21:33

DH and I were married a few weeks ago. I have taken his last name and it's on the marriage certificate as such.

So far I've only changed it on FB. I do not want to change it on my passport because I have 6 years left on the passport and I've seen pics of passports received recently where "European Union" is removed and I want to avoid that for as long as I can.

Everything else is fair game. I don't mind paying a little to change the driving licence but if it's a lot I'd leave that as well. Can I leave the passport as WTF Maidenname and have the rest as WTF DHName? Or does everything need to have the same name? Is it a huge hassle to change everything over?

Thanks

OP posts:
EdithWeston · 03/10/2019 21:42

It is an utter PITA to try to have two names concurrently.

I suggest you stay with your birth name for officialdom (until you are ready to change everything) and use Mrs DH socially (FB counts as socially).

If you do want to attempt a partial change, not top tip is to keep at least one debit or credit card per name, so you can always match (hire car firms, airlines etc can get distinctly difficult if passport or driving licence name does not match name on card)

SherbetSaucer · 03/10/2019 22:29

Couldn’t you have just kept your name? Then you have no hassle at all!

AllFourOfThem · 03/10/2019 22:31

I have both names and they run alongside each other without any issues. Passport in one name, driving licence in another. I agree about keeping at least one debit and one credit card per name.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Marriage & partnerships
popcorndiva · 03/10/2019 22:32

I finally got round to updating my passport and I had 8 years on it but I wanted to book holidays in my married name so I had no issues witg taking my DS abroad as we would have different surnames.

It is a PITA. I waited until i was on maternity leave to update all my logins, email at work

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 03/10/2019 22:36

You have to change your driver license, I didn’t change my passport until it expired about 4 years on, just remember to book flights in your maiden name. Everything else was easy not much of as hassle at all.

HoldingBackTheCat · 03/10/2019 22:37

I've been married 10 years and my mobile phone is in my maiden name. I phoned them at the time and they wanted me to send original copies of my wedding certificate to change it. I forgot/had more important companies to change my name with. So every few years when I want a new deal I have to remember to be my maiden name. Now a bit embarrassed to sort it out but I probably should!

thenewname · 03/10/2019 22:45

Why would you HAVE to change your driving license?

LegoLady95 · 03/10/2019 22:57

I left my passport in my maiden name as I had 9 years left on it after marriage. After a few years I forgot to book flights in my maiden name once, and in the end it was cheaper to buy a new passport.
The only thing I have left in my maiden name is my NI card and email address.

ILikePaperHats · 03/10/2019 23:01

I never changed my passport or driving licence when I got married, and thank fuck I didn't as I am divorced now!

karmakameleon · 03/10/2019 23:03

I have my passport in my maiden name and driving licence in my married name. Mainly because changing your name is such a pita that lost enthusiasm half way through. It works well though as I have valid photo ID for both names.

Frazzled2207 · 03/10/2019 23:06

You def don't have to change anything at all

I did everything except passport-like you there was several years to run on it. When it expired I got it changed and in the meantime just had to remember to book travel under maiden name. I also kept one credit card with the maiden name just in case or any problems but there never were

AnotherEmma · 03/10/2019 23:07

Changing your name on your driver's licence was cheap and easy when I did it (years ago). If I were you I'd do that now.

Changing it on your passport is more expensive and you might as well wait until your current passport is due to expire. You can renew it up to 9 months in advance of the expiry date, I think.

I changed it on everything apart from my passport which I changed when it was due for renewal anyway.

But if I had my time again I'm not sure I would change my name at all.

Dollywilde · 03/10/2019 23:08

Married in July 2018. Changed my driving licence that week as it was expired (wasn’t driving in the interim!)

Passport waited until April 2019 when it was up for renew.

Electoral roll changed immediately as I didn’t want to bugger up eligibility or credit records. My credit report now shows me as Dolly DH

Changed all bank stuff over the course of about a year as we only had one copy of the certificate so I would send it off, get it back, send it off again.

I have a couple of utilities I keep meaning to switch over but at the end of the day nothing of the above is about legal name. You can have two, and showing your marriage certificate will sort any scenario where there’s confusion.

One thing I would say is to keep one official ID (ie passport or driving licence) in your maiden name until you’ve changed all the other important ones. My bank sent me my new bank card (with my married name on the card) in an envelope addressed to me with my maiden name and as it needed a signature, it wound up at the sorting office and I’d have been fucked if I didn’t have ID in that name to pick it up with.

Therefore in your shoes I would do:

  • driving licence change
  • sort all bank, utilities, etc
  • passport change when it’s up for renewal
Original poster
WTF0ver · 03/10/2019 23:08

That's great! That's what I needed to know, if I could keep the passport as it is and change other things. Great thanks everyone!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page