To ask you for help on changing my name back to my maiden name

[mrpoopybutthole]

So I'm recently seperated and want to change back to my maiden name as soon as possible. I went in to the bank & explained this, taking in my marriage certificate & passport (passport still in maiden name). They said at first that they need to see divorce paperwork/cert. I explained that that can take up to a couple of years to come through & I want to change my name now back to what it was before on my account. They said that's fine & did it.
Now I'm trying to change my name with payroll at work. I've given my marriage cert (which has maiden name on it) & passport. They say this isn't enough. I don't understand why it was so easy when I got married to change my name, just showing marriage cert but for some reason they won't accept this to change it back. The way I see it, when I got married I didn't necessarily need to take his name, so why are they using this as the be all and end all of changing my name. Also I worked there before I was married, so in maiden name.
I've asked what exactly they need to see & they said they need documentation of me legally changing my name. Does this mean I have to do it officially by deedpoll?

Yes

I waited for divorce cert

Depends where you are. In Scotland, your name is always your name and a married name is just an alias, hence seeing formal legal reports of 'Anne Smith or Jones'. Here you can call yourself what you like as long as it's not for fraudulent purposes; you just tell everyone concerned and going back to your own legal name isn't a problem.

The situation with English law is completely different so in cases like this, people really need to state where they are.

Changing it by deedpoll is pretty straightforward though. You can do it yourself www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll or use one of the websites - shouldn't cost more than £10.

Deedpoll is a bit of a con I think, you should be able to make a declaration for free. But if they are being dicks about it you can do deedpoll online for £20ish

I had the same thing, OP - very frustrating! I did just what Chowmum suggested though and did it by cheap deedpoll. Don't believe other sites or solicitors who can try and charge you £70+ for the same thing!

It was easy when you married because your marriage certificate was proof of name change. I would suggest just changing by deed if it matters that you do it ASAP.

Fuck it then, I'll do it online by deedpoll. I just want rid of any connection to the fucker. It's frustrating with work because my work email is my name, so currently my married name. I wanted to go back to work next week with my maiden name, so new year fresh start and all that. Plus I've started changing my name back with bank and other accounts and don't want some stuff in one name, some in another.

Also marriage certificate isn't proof of a name change, it's proof that you got married. Nowhere does it state that you will be now known as Mrs X.

I just changed it back. No legalities. Why would you pay anything, or go through any formal channels?

You can call yourself whatever you like, as long as you are not doing it to defraud or deceive in any capacity.

Calling yourself your husbands name is a choice, not a legal issue. You don't even have to be divorced to revert to maiden name.

If banks in particular insist, (and that would be to check against fraudulent activity as above) show them a copy of your marriage certificate - that has your maiden name + your husbands name on it.

You don’t need any proof of what your name is - you can call yourself whatever you like. You don’t need to be married or divorced to change your name. You can just wake up one day and decide to change it. I changed to DH’s name when I got married, then (still married) decided it didn’t feel like “me” so I changed back.

Write your own deed poll (google it and copy paste the wording) and get passport and driving licence first. Then use those to change everything else.

Silkei that's what I thought, it's not really a legality. The bank were fine with it, I have marriage certificate with my maiden name on & passport is in my maiden name, so I don't see why my work payroll are being so difficult about it.

I changed my name in my late 30s. I just told everyone (bank, tax, work etc) that as of x date I would be known as Tighna. No deed poll, no drama.

They absolutely don't need that and they're full of shit. Legally you can just start using a name and it becomes yours. That said, download a free declaration form or deed poll online just because places like paper trails, and it's easier than arguing with some jobsworth law inventor.

Will they accept your birth certificate (assuming you have it)?

No they won't accept birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport or bank paperwork. They say the only thing they'll accept is divorce certificate or deedpoll.

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

Copy and paste, stick your name on it. Job done.

DP used this website and we had no issues.

Bought some nice parchment paper from Hobby craft and that's about it.

Plus, you can print however many you like (and the witnesses are willing to sign!) without being charged the earth.

Just tell them that from x date your name will be xxxx and they need to amend their records accordingly. There is no law that says you have to keep any name at all for any reason other than fraudulent. They cannot stop paying you simply because you are reverting back to your maiden name.

I've just changed my name online via deedpoll. Its easier in the long run, if I have any issues name changing anywhere else. It just pissed me off that he's left me (out of the blue ) and this is yet another thing that I'm left to sort out and pay for.

I changed back to my maiden name in the 70s. I just used my birth certificate nothing else was required .

You don’t have to pay for a deed poll though- the free ones are fine and just as valid. There’s no central database for deed polls so there’s no such thing as an official one

No they won't accept birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport or bank paperwork. They say the only thing they'll accept is divorce certificate or deedpoll

So how does any member of staff change there name when they get married..? I would put money on the fact they accept a marriage certificate for changing name in some circumstances but not others, which you could argue is unfair