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Original poster

Revert to maiden name but still happily married

19 replies

SchnozzaHoomum · 30/12/2023 15:07

I can’t believe how difficult it is to find an answer to this, so I thought one of the fab people on here might be able to help. I’ve been happily married to my husband for 14 years. We are solid as a rock. All I want to do, and he is perfectly happy with this, is revert to my maiden name. It’s simply because I much prefer my maiden name. Does anyone know how I can do this without having to prove we are separating or divorcing? We’re not! Surely this should not be difficult? Thank you.

OP posts:

Eekmystro · 30/12/2023 15:08

can’t you just change by deed poll. Just start using birth certificate etc as proof to update your ID etc

Deadringer · 30/12/2023 15:12

I have been researching this too but drawn a blank. I am in Ireland but i imagine the situation is similar. Apparently you can legally revert to your single name at any time, but it seems to change your bank account or anything like that they look for proof of separation. To change your passport you have to have been using your old name for at least two years.

MrsHughesPinny · 30/12/2023 15:13

Change it by deed poll. Divorce decree is only one of the ways you can evidence why you want to change your name with banks, doctor etc. Deed poll is another totally acceptable one.

belge2 · 30/12/2023 15:14

Côme and live in Belgium where no one changes their name! . Everything is in my maiden name which I forget sometimes!

vidflex · 30/12/2023 15:15

A solicitor can do you a statutory declarations of name change.

MadeOfAllWork · 30/12/2023 15:16

As I understand it you can just start using your maiden name again, as your maiden name is always your name.
If you were born Jane Jones then get married and change to Jane Smith bank, passports etc are only changed out of politeness, your actual name doesn’t change.

But I might be wrong.

JollyHollyXmasTime · 30/12/2023 15:19

You just need a deed poll, which you do not need to pay for.

StmMary · 30/12/2023 15:21

Hi, I've never really liked married name much. So I put my maiden name in the middle.
My husband happy with it and even likes it himself.

Mairzydotes · 30/12/2023 15:26

Can you do it my deed poll and then tell the bank and dvla and whoever, this is my name now as per deed poll . Don't mention it being your maiden name that is where the confusion arises.

RNBrie · 30/12/2023 15:27

I have done this...

The pp who said you can still legally use your maiden name is correct. But no company or official document provider will accept a name change without some paperwork.

I did it by deed poll. You can do a deed poll completely for free (google it, there's instructions easily available) but again, literally NOWHERE would accept that. So I paid a company on the Internet about £17 to create me a fancy document (which says the same thing as the free one but it looks more official). I then asked a lawyer friend to sign the back of it.

Start with changing your passport, they easily accepted the certified deed poll doc and once you have a passport you're home free.

You do not need to have it listed in the London Gazette or whatever the official record is called.

At one point, DH and I actually talked about getting divorced just so I could get the right paperwork. We'd have quietly got married again afterwards (!!).

There was one company I applied for a job at and they couldn't do background checks as their computer system would only accept a name change back to a maiden name with a decree absolute. I accepted a job elsewhere before they managed to resolve it.

I never tick the "have you ever gone by another name" box on forms any more...

StmMary · 30/12/2023 15:27

Hi when I wanted to put my maiden name in the middle or if I decided to just use maiden name again.
I had to go on line and do change of name.
Even if I've been know by maiden name.
You have to have it done by deppol.
You can get copies and send to all the people you need to deal with.
Banks, utility, life insurance, ect. Even Dr's..
Hope this helps any one that's wanting to go back to maiden name or add a name or take a name off.
It's cheap to do as well. Just shop around on line.

DoneByWeds · 30/12/2023 15:34

I use both my maiden name and married name. Mostly married name in my personal life and maiden name professionally.

My passport was very helpful in allowing me to do this - as when I married I changed my passport to my married name and I used the option to have it endorsed with my maiden name as "also known as" in the comments box. That means that I can use it as ID for both names.

This might help you....

SwordToFlamethrower · 30/12/2023 15:37

You don't owe anyone an explanation. It's your name and you want it back. Just start using it on your socials and change it on your documents.

My friend did the same thing.

Justleaveitblankthen · 30/12/2023 15:44

belge2 · 30/12/2023 15:14

Côme and live in Belgium where no one changes their name! . Everything is in my maiden name which I forget sometimes!

Every day is a school day!
I never knew that. That's so cool.
Do they use Mademoiselle/Madame in written correspondence according to age roughly?

Clingfilm · 30/12/2023 23:17

Can't believe this thread was posted today as I was wondering the same! Regarding bank accounts, can't you just open a new one with your birth certificate? And if applying for a new job do it in your maiden name?

BrimfulOfMash · 30/12/2023 23:23

It’s your name, the name on your birth certificate, just start using it.

Open a bank account using your birth certificate , but you might need to fill in ‘also known as’.

If you go the Deed Poll route be sure to use the free gov.uk service, not the unnecessary sites that make a charge.

Nottodaty · 30/12/2023 23:28

I’ve been married 20 years and still use a mix of names. My recent job is the first time I’m actually using my married name. My husband never really uses my married name.

My passport only changed to my married name. (Only because it was cheaper to change my passport than correct a holiday booking!)

I need vetting for my job and it’s never been an issue as I provide both names.

Gerwurtztraminer · 31/12/2023 00:05

You don't really need a deed poll, it can be done without. Changing name back on a bank account is straightforward. Check with your bank what paperwork they require, it's usually your birth certificate and a statutory declaration/statement that you are relinquishing married name. Once you've done that you can change your passport, as in addition to birth cert that needs an extra document like payslip, bank statement or utility bill in maiden name. Info is on .gov.uk site.

At work you just tell you employer your new name and they'll update your personnel files and a letter from them can be used for evidence for other changes as well. However NI number/ HMRC records will need amending too, you'll need to do that via your Government Gateway login.

Once you have a new passport all the other changes will be pretty straightforward.

Women do this all the time for example when separated and not yet divorced and it's easier now that most of it can be done online.

Torganer · 31/12/2023 00:14

I had the opposite. I’ve never changed my name, but someone gave us a cheque when we got married to ‘Mr & Mrs Hisname. Opened an online account to pay the cheque in as my own bank (our joint account!!) wouldn’t let us pay it in as I didn’t change my name. I even put my ‘married name’ on the wedding certificate in case I had a change of heart. Took that in to them and they said they couldn’t cash it unless I changed my name on our account. Well, obviously I want going to do that for £20, so another high street bank was my friend and opened a joint account in his name, no proof required, all online, cashed it and took it back out again!!

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