Enhanced DBS and name change

[Kegbot]

Hi there,

We're in Stage 1 and doing our DBS checks.

DH and I married six years ago, but I've never actually changed my passport into my new name. For banks, work etc - I generally show my marriage certificate as proof of name change and it's all fine.

It is a weird situation where I have two names - ie, travelling where I need to go by previous.

I was under the impression, as I need to give previous names anyway as part of the DBS - a passport alongside a marriage certificate as proof of identity would be fine, however I am being told that all my ID documents much be in new name.

Even if my passport and driving license was in my married name, my marriage certificate and birth certificate wouldn't be.

Has anybody else been in this situation?

Sorry I cannot help but following as I could be in the exact same situation. I had about 7 years on my passport when we got married and as we only go away at most once per year I have never bothered.

I am pretty sure when you get married you can legally use either name though...

Don't know whether this is helpful, but a work colleague who has been offered a new job subject to a DBS is in the same position. In the past, she provided her marriage certificate as part of the trail of documents explaining her new second name. She was told that this was no longer allowed but was allowed to apply using her maiden name. Luckily she had enough documents in this name to apply.

Sounds frustrating if they are not allowing marriage certificates to show trail of name change. I have documents in both names and used to regularly have DBS checks for work with no problem. Last one for adopting was 4 years ago, again with different names on docs and no problem as DBS form asks for previous names. Like you, I find it useful to have both names for different purposes. Annoying if bureaucracy means I'll eventually need to change all docs to get another DBS!

DBS are dreadful for women, changes of name, concurrent names. Do the DBS under the name you have the docs required most easily, and put the other under 'any other names'. If you put Ms, then you have to put a 'maiden' name anyway.

I think their processes are indirect discrimination, as women are the only ones assumed to have a previous name due to their choice of title, and women are more likely to have changed their names, and so their inefficient processing affects women disproportionately.

But I have too much of a life to fight it myself!

Thanks all. I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one having troubles because of this!
It is very strange. Because I applied in married name, I'm now waiting for a new wedding certificate to arrive. I then need to send off for a new driving license before we can do the DBS. They will take the passport though. It's a minefield! Unfortunately, can't add in 'previous names' until the SW has seen the docs these days, so no way around it.
Luckily I can progress with the forms etc, but we won't be able to do the three day end of Stage One course until this has come through.