Known as

[CharlieSays13]

We've been advised by one social worker that we can register our little ones at school, doctors etc as "known as" our second name. The little ones own social worker didn't seem very sure and said we just needed to tell them that is what we want. Has anyone done this and if so how.

Many thanks

You cannot legally do this no. The child must be registered in their legal names, and then changed when the AO goes through.

10 years ago when mine started school the school did allow us to call them by our name, but they were still registered in their legal names and all paperwork reflected this. I think some schools still allow this but legally its a no-no....NHS and GPs etc do not allow it no.

Not possible in my experience, have always reconfirmed AO needed first.

I’m in Scotland, my children were registered at school and doctors, dentist etc in my name - there were no legal concerns raised at all, their birth name was held on file as “also known by” but they were called by my name immediately.

Sorry, I must not have explained myself very well. I know the name won't change legally until after the AO, but SW seems to think we can use "known as" our name...

Brilliant Jelly, off to the doctor's right now 👍

We had to register under their legal names but did use "known as" with our surnames. School, doctors and dentist used them but opticians stuck with their legal names

We also registered in given name, but our boy is "known as" at school.

We weren't allowed to use our name until the AO

I am pretty sure we did this at school and doctors.

School knew son's birth name and once, very unhelpfully, put it on his peg!

Surgery used to call out the name so did not want them calling out his birth name.

We were given strict instructions as part of the paperwork that we couldn't 'cause the child to be known as another name' until AO. The GP called me instead, and I lied to the dentist and library.

We were strictly told to make sure their birth surname was never used publicly. So whilst all professionals knew their registered surname was their birth families, it was only on the paper work & NEVER used. At the docs, our surname is used to book appointments & on any letters they send as well as on the flashing sign calling them into see the doctor/dentist. Health professionals will be totally used to this, most schools/nurseries should be too as it is entirely normal

Thanks everyone, "known as" our surname has been accepted by school, doctor etc 👍

common sense.