Passport office won’t issue my passport,help pls

[Christmaspug]

I’ve never really used my first name ,always used my middle name ,.on my wedding certificate the registrar put my middle name first as that’s what everyone calls me.
Passport office want proof of a name change from first name to middle name

Obviously I’ve not got that ,lots of people use their second name when they don’t like their first name,why would I change it officially as they are both my name.
I’m about to loose my £80 fee ,as this has been has been going backwards and forwards for some time ,
I’ve simply not got the proof they want ,
What on Earth can I do
I’m 46 always lived in uk and never had a passport before

You can have a passport in your single name even if married. It will be easier to prove your birth name. Just ensure you book flights in the same passport name. These must match.

@diddl

Diana got a couple of Prince Charles's names the wrong way round.

(when they got married.)

Yeah, but the correct names were on the marriage certificate (and their birth certificates.) So it's not really the same as having the names written down incorrectly on your marriage certificate.

Again, I don't get how the registrar got it wrong. They generally don't get things wrong. The more I read this thread, the more baffled I am getting!

I'm amazed that people have managed to get a passport in any name other than what is shown on their birth certificate(without proof of namechange)

I think the difference is that the op is getting her first passport rather than a renewal. The rule are stricter now.

"So it's not really the same as having the names written down incorrectly on your marriage certificate."

No- I was thinking that the fact that the names were said incorrectly might not invalidate the marriage.

However, Op might struggle to prove that she is married?

"I think the difference is that the op is getting her first passport rather than a renewal. The rule are stricter now."

Yes.

Perhaps I should have put that I'm surprised that anyone has managed to get a first passport in a name other than that on their birth certificate?

I’m worrying now that despite having had passport in the “wrong” name for 50 years, plus absolutely everything else official, the fact that none of it matches my birth certificates might cause my family problems later.

Do I need to do a restrospective deed poll?

@GiantKitten I would certainly get legal advice. Maybe ask Citizens Advice?

Lol. This is what happens when you get old 🤣 I was convinced that I signed the marriage register in my new name. This was 1979 and exh is long gone so I can't check. No wonder I'm getting confused. 🤪

Is there such a thing as a "contracting vow"? Isn't the certificate and the register entry the legal bit?

No, in E&W the words are what legalises the marriage - the register is the legal record but marriage is a verbal contract in England and Wales - which is why the registrar won't allow these elements to be changed.
You would, have produced your documents to give notice of your intention to marry - did you get married in a church?

Actually a quick google would say that's not correct.

The vows are purely traditional. What is required is the witnessing by an authorised person of the couple declaring themselves husband and wife. When they do so it is then legally recorded.

The vows are not legally binding.

However I still can't see it as binding if she did it under a fake name and not her real one.

This is taking thread off track but I’m intrigued- what would happen if vows were said but one party died or changed their mind before the paperwork was signed?

Hope you get sorted op

@adaline good idea, thank you!

what would happen if vows were said but one party died or changed their mind before the paperwork was signed?

The chances of someone dying in the 5 minutes between saying I do and signing are slim.

*what would happen if vows were said but one party died or changed their mind before the paperwork was signed?

The chances of someone dying in the 5 minutes between saying I do and signing are slim*

I once read an old murder story where this happened. Afaik, the marriage was deemed invalid as the register had not been signed.

This is taking thread off track but I’m intrigued- what would happen if vows were said but one party died or changed their mind before the paperwork was signed?

I would assume it's not legally binding as the paperwork isn't signed.

Do what sashh says and you can get passport in correct name now without losing your fee.

On another day investigate correcting you marriage certificate and register into your birth name but that isn't the priority. I doubt very much your marriage is invalid just incorrectly registered.

The paperwork isn't signed in this case either, because the op did not sign her real name.

My marriage certificate doesn’t have the same surname as my birth certificate. My mum, in her wisdom , gave me my step father’s surname when I was three. Nothing was done officially but I had bank accounts, exam certificates, National insurance number etc all in my new name. I don’t know how! The problem arose when I wanted a passport.

We had to get a statement from someone who knew me who could say I’d be known as XY since 1983. That was it. It does say formally known as on the marriage certificate.

It is a pain in the arse though, not helped by my original surname being added unofficially to my middle names. If anyone is thinking about unofficially changing their child’s name. Don’t!!

When we had a wedding rehearsal I didn't want to say our names as I felt we would be married! The vicar got really cross and said it didn't count until the register was signed.

I’ve just signed for the children’s exam entries, we had to confirm the names are as per their birth certificate - DDs middle name was missing.

Things change.

When I married DH I kept my last name as a middle name and use DH's last name as a surname. I had a deed poll done just to keep the passport office happy as they couldn't assume what I wanted, I.e. they would naturally assume I was using both as surnames when I'm not.

So, when I changed my name I sent the deed poll to the passport office and did not send the marriage certificate. They don't need to see it if you are changing your name for another reason.

The opinion on here stated as fact is astonishing.
In England and Wales, in all civil and most religious marriages (catholic, Islamic etc where legally recognised), it is the WORDS, that marry you. Not the signing of the register. The register is a record that the marriage took place.
That is why they must be said and why registrars are so particular about them.
If someone were to die before they signed the register was signed (!) they would still be married. There would have been witnesses there - hence two are needed.
Hence I asked if the op was married in church????

I have a similar situation except my parents have always written my name with a capital letter in the middle, but when DF registered my birth, he didn't put the capital letter.

Plus I use a shortened version of my name.
Think: FranCiska, Franciska and Fran.

I have so many different things on paperwork. However, when I got married, they asked what I wanted. So it says FranCiska, formerly known as Franciska.

My passport still says Franciska though, as that is what my birth certificate says.

I have never done a deed poll (am starting to wonder if I should, but surely it would just complicate matters).

It has not affected my life in anyway shape or form though!

You have my sympathy OP, I had a few issues with name changes etc...

My mum changed my surname by deedpoll to my step dads name when they married when I was 3. I lost the deed poll in my 20s, so when I applied for a passport I had to get another deed poll name change from my original birth certificate name to my step dads name again.

On my marriage certificate it states my maiden name as my name on the deed poll (step dads name) but ‘previously known as’ with my birth certificate name is also on there, as the registrar said there would need to be a trail linking me to my different names.

I hope you get this sorted.

So...for everyone saying that you have to sign your marriage cert to be married, what about maybe 100 years ago when a lot of the population were illiterate? They signed with a X.
I have my family tree going back to the 1600s. There are records there of marriages where one spouse was unable to sign, but the 'signature' is simply shown as X, and a note by the registrar as unable to sign.

On the other hand, I'd question potential issues of your qualifications @Christmaspug. How could your mum have randomly changed your surname (without a legal adoption) each time she re-married? Did your school never ask for proof of adoption each time you changed your name from your birth cert to your step father's names, then back again when they split up?

Your mum seems to have had a rather cavalier approach to name changing and you seem to have not grasped the importance of the legalities.