Anyone changed their name by deed poll? Can’t find all the answers online - is it a pain in the arse?!

[CanICelebrate]

I want to change my surname to double barrel it. I’ve looked up cost and know I need to change my passport but I wonder how easy it is after that. Do you change birth certificate? Once you’ve changed it by deed poll is it easy to change with bank etc? If I choose not to officially change it can I just start using another name at work etc? Any experience or help welcomed - I’ve looked it up but it only tells me the initial first steps to take. Thanks

Email Hugo Boss (Joe Lycett) for advice.
He'll be able to offer some good advice !

It's the easiest thing ever. I did my children's years ago. Cost me £5 online for the template, got a barrister friend to sign it. It's been accepted everywhere.

You don't need anyone's permission or any special 'legal magic' to do this. Just write to all concerned that as of ....(DATE) ..I ..(YOUR NAME) now will be known as ...(NEW NAME). Sign it in your old name and new name.
That's the fun bit. Having to revert in the future hurts, but I sincerely hope you don't have to experience that.

Apologies . Forgot to mention you need someone over 18 (non-family) to witness it.

Really easy, takes a bit to switch everything over but I didn't have a problem.

Do I need a legal document to change passport/ bills / bank etc? I’m actually going back to my maiden name for personal reasons and double barrelling it with my current surname. Shall I just write to my employer and let them know burger? Was yours formal?
I’d like to do it formally I think but could perhaps do it informally first?
Did you send it off to get a new passport @AppleSighDuh ?
This is all so helpful thank you.

For passport you need your deedpoll and proof you're using name change, so council tax bill or bank statement etc

And do I need deedpoll proof to change with bank and utilities?

Ooh, I have done this. I didn't do deed poll, just let everyone know that I was reverting to my maiden name. That sounds easy but was a pain in the arse. Lots of companies require sight of original documents to track all your name changes from birth so you have to show your birth certificate, your marriage cert, your decree absolute and photo ID in your new name.

My advice would be:

1. make sure you have your marriage certificate first (I'd sent mine off to get divorced and didn't get it back so needed to get the second copy of my marriage certificate from my ex).
2. do your passport first - they make less fuss than some of the utilities so it can be easier. Plus you don't need it for a while so it will be okay to send it away.
3. sequence your changes so that you sort out most important first. Most take a couple of weeks to send the docs back so plan for this
4. if you have credit cards with no borrowing on them, just in case, it is easier to close them and start again than to change name (thank you Barclaycard!)
5. Virgin Media, if you are with them, are utterly useless about this and made it massively more difficult for me than any other company, including HMRC, passport, mortgage, land registry etc. If I had my time again, I'd close my account with them and port to another provider.

Yes for bank and I'm not sure about utilities as I don't have them, off the grid, but I presume the same, had to provide my deed poll for ee I think as I have a 4g router with them.

I used the deed poll to apply for their first passports, no issue

Virgin Media, if you are with them, are utterly useless about this and made it massively more difficult for me than any other company, including HMRC, passport, mortgage, land registry etc. If I had my time again, I'd close my account with them and port to another provider

Ditto Sky, they were really awkward, insisting wanting to know why I was changing name (er non of your business). They actually ended up saying "well how do we know your telling us the truth" Cus cancelled DD

Banks Passport etc where quite straighforward

I did exactly this, using an online deed poll service. It cost £10 and I didn't need a solicitor, just someone else to be a witness when I signed the paperwork when it arrived. I changed my passport and drivers licence without any issues, then updated my bank and other utilities as and when I needed to speak to them about other things.

Just write a document as possible said above then send it off to whichever people need it. Doesn’t need to cost anything and is very simple.

Super easy - DH changed his name to add my surname as a middle name, and it was so easy that he only went online to check how to do it and just went right ahead!

There’s a really easy template on free deed polls website that you just fill in and print out as many times as you want and then send them off. Was easy and free!

Thanks for starting this thread - been meaning to change mine for ages and this can give me a kick to get it sorted. DH and I both started using our double barrelled surname when we married but some places accept it (showed them birth/marriage certificates) and others don’t (oddly the bank accepted DH but not me )

I've been meaning to do this but kept procrastinating.

You don't need to pay for a deed poll itself! Wording to use is given on the government's own website. You just need two witnesses who aren't family. They don't have to be in any special job or even know you, but they do have to be willing to put their addresses on the deed poll.

(So it may not be possible for you to do under the coronavirus restrictions.)

You can and should do a few copies, each signed by you and your witnesses.

Once the DVLA and the Passport Office are happy with it, any sensible companies won't have a problem. Of course you may encounter companies that insist on misnaming you.

www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll

I changed mine. I got a free online template, printed it off, got a countersignatory and printed it on "proper" paper. Made 5 or 6 copies and sent them to DVLA passport office and kept some things for others (like jobs and things).

It is easy and completely free

Actually changing my name via deed poll was easy, but then getting certain companies to accept it has been a nightmare: EE, Sky, virgin, MBNA.

Because of these I’ve still got one back account in my original name which is just irritating and messy and will probably lead to credit search issues later on

We used a free online template too. No need for solicitor involvement. Got two people unrelated to us and living at different addresses to us to witness them. We did 3 original copies each. Accepted readily by everyone from HMRC, DVLA, Passport office and every bank other than natwest who were a complete pain in the arse. I had to raise it with the CEO of natwest but eventually they accepted it. Stupidly, they would have allowed us to open new accounts using our new driving licences and passports but refused to allow us to change our name on existing accounts....

How do you change your name back to your maiden name even if you’re married? Is it the same thing.

I’m currently Mrs X and I used to be Miss Y. For personal family reasons I want my family name back so I want to be Mrs Y-X. I hope that will be ok? I’ve always regretted changing my name and now due to sad family circumstances I really regret it so thought this would be a lovely compromise. Am not getting divorced.
It’s sounds like it’s more simple than I thought it would be. I’ll follow the link now and email my employer. I won’t need my passport until 2021 so I’ve got plenty of time

I did it after getting divorced. Easy, same as changing your name when you get married except you need copies of the deed poll not the marriage certificate. Very satisfying, very glad I did.