Changing your name by deed poll - any experience or knowledge?

[DavidTheDog]

I have often toyed with changing my name. The name change bit seems quite easy and cheap to do.

I'm wondering what the practicalities are. Would I need to change my documentation, or could I just update them with my new name as I renew them? In effect this would mean having two names on the go.

Will it cause problems further down the line? E.g. I seem to have to apply for a new DBS every year for one reason or another.

Would love to hear others' experience.

I changed my surname via deed poll, just follow the guides don't pay one of the companies, very easy, sent off to passport first so I could use that as proof of id if needed, but mostly everywhere just accepted the deed poll alone, I had a dbs with no issues.

That's good to know, thank you. Did you change the name on your bank accounts and utilities? What did you do about email addresses?

@DavidTheDog

That's good to know, thank you. Did you change the name on your bank accounts and utilities? What did you do about email addresses?

Yes I changed it on everything, bank, pensions, utilities. For email I set up a new one and still have access to my old one.

Do you mind me asking if you went for a "sensible" name change or something a bit more "out there"? I'm going for sensible choices for empowering reasons.

I did mine after my wedding but I did pay for the deed poll service (can't remember who I used though). I used the certificates to change my details with the Dr, dentist, bank, dvla etc and I sent it to the agency I work for so they could use that to apply for my DBS (this was before the online service). I don't have an up-to-date passport so haven't done that. I haven't had any issues with it at all.

I did mine after my wedding but I did pay for the deed poll service

I changed my name when I got married but a marriage certificate was all I needed to do it, no deed poll necessary in case of marriage.

@Cazzovuoi

I did mine after my wedding but I did pay for the deed poll service

I changed my name when I got married but a marriage certificate was all I needed to do it, no deed poll necessary in case of marriage.

I committed a mn sin and double-barrelled my surname.

@DavidTheDog

Do you mind me asking if you went for a "sensible" name change or something a bit more "out there"? I'm going for sensible choices for empowering reasons.

I guess it would be classified as "out there" for the UK. Its the name of an animal in a foreign language which is a usual surname in that country but not in the UK.

Do you mean your first name or surname?

Fabulous @liloli

@RestartGame I’d like change my surname and add a middle name.

I guess changing your first name is easier, you could just be “known as” and not have to change any documentation.

I changed my surname by deed poll 20 years go as I was given a name I didn't want (by deed poll) when I was 8 years old and wanted to change it back again.
Once I got the certificate I went through all of my paperwork, drivers licence and passport and changed the lot back.
The DBS for work, prison medical, was more complicated as I had to tell them every single year why I've got different names, all of the ins and outs of why I changed it and it's a bit of a pain.

Thank you @Shehasadiamondinthesky. I am thinking that this will be an empowering and comforting process for me. Was there anyone alive who would have been angry with you for changing your name back? If so, how did you deal with it? (I'm thinking of just not mentioning it to them).

I changed my first name by deed poll over 40 years ago - so no emails to worry about!
I changed all my documentation and I need a dbs regularly, it just takes a bit longer to come because I’ve also been married twice and changed my surnames both times!
It’s funny to think my own children have never known me by my old name.
I love that my deed poll says I shall be known by my new name in “deed, word and thought”. Not sure how they would enforce the last one!

I changed my name…twice. No need to pay, just type out document and get someone to sign it. Then type out accompanying letter and send off to everyone.

@DavidTheDog

Fabulous *@liloli*

@RestartGame I’d like change my surname and add a middle name.

Ah, I changed my first and middle name, updated all ID right away. The only annoying thing is my old name is on my children’s birth certificates, and that can’t be changed.

The only annoying thing is my old name is on my children’s birth certificates, and that can’t be changed.

I feel that about my qualification certificates, but all part of life's journey I guess.

True, still worth changing it.
Youngest dc doesn’t remember my old name so will be wtf when he sees his birth certificate. I’ll tell him to blame his gran for giving me such a silly birth name 😂

@DavidTheDog

Thank you *@Shehasadiamondinthesky*. I am thinking that this will be an empowering and comforting process for me. Was there anyone alive who would have been angry with you for changing your name back? If so, how did you deal with it? (I'm thinking of just not mentioning it to them).

I chose a name that had no obvious connection (i.e. not a family name back in say the maternal family tree which is what another person I know did). It is still a 'normal' sounding surname if a bit less common as its origin is foreign. It just 'felt' right and when I sounded a few close friends out they all agreed it was 'me'.

A few family members including my mother were a bit taken aback or thought I was weird, especially the older ones. However as my parents had had a very nasty divorce when I was little and my father was dead by then, no one was too upset. They also knew I didn't really care what they thought!

I just told people as I saw them and let the gossip network do the rest. This was pre social media so no pressure to do some sort of big 'announcement' to the world. It helped it coincided with me moving cities to go to university so all my new friends never knew my old name other than a few people I'd known from school. If it's what you want to do, go for it. By the way, some institutions will re-issue your qualifications and certificates in a new name for a fee, by sighting the deed poll, I never bothered as it was really only school stuff for me but a friend now has their uni degree & professional quals in their new name.