Professional Names

[MrsBrentford]

I use my first husbands name for work. I am married to husband no 2. My school qualifications are in my maiden name as are various others and then some with first husbands name when I started work in this field, which is customer facing and handy to have different name so people can’t find me out of work or on SM. So known as one name at work throughout.

I am doing a work related qualification, and I had to do my English which was issued in professional name but the awarding body now saying will only issue certificate in “legal” name, so I will have this main one qualification in a name I am not known by?

AIBU to think that this is a load of bollocks? I reverted to maiden name after divorce and didn’t do deed poll just changed it at the bank etc - so surely they are just being arses - and I have earnt it and should be allowed to have certificate in professional name?

Is this not a problem of your own doing?
1 person 1 name. Simples.

How do they define your legal name? The one on your passport? I would have thought any one of those names were legally yours.

Firstawake - lots of people use a different surname at work to the one they use at home - if you become well known professionally under a surname, it’s to your benefit to retain that surname, even if you marry/do something else that leads to you changing surnames in your social setting.

There's surely no such thing as a "legal name" in English law - you can go by any name. You can even have multiple names in your passport (you can get "also known as" in the official observations section, I believe).

Ask them what they mean by "legal name".

I mean, it is certainly annoying, but I don't think it's a problem, is it? Presumably your work do also know your legal name for tax purposes, so they can still recognise the qualification as yours.

@bridgetreilly there isn't such a thing as legal name. HMRC uses the name you were given at birth unless you get them to update it.

While it did take me about 20 years the name HMRC now uses matches my passport and driving license.

If you didn’t go through deed poll then your legal name is your current married name.
If you gain a doctorate whilst single, then your title goes with your maiden name. If you’re married while you gain a doctorate then , I believe, your doctorate is in your married name.
I think your problem is that you are choosing a name that hasn’t been legally changed to what you want it to be.

Think any educational institution will only issue certificates in 'legal' name - essentially what's on your passport/driving license

I can prove who I am. I just want my professional name on my certificate.

Maybe I will ask them what they mean by legal name.

Your name doesn't automatically change on marriage or divorce. I've got my passport in my married name and my driving licence in my maiden name. I use both, quite legally.
You can have more than one legal name, so long as you're not trying to defraud anyone. However, that will probably blow their minds, so if your professional name marries up with any other form of ID, that should be ok.
But do ask them to confirm exactly what they mean by " legal name" and how you would be required to evidence that. And maybe when they've done that, ask them to confirm that all applicants have been asked to prove their legal name.

@DelphiniumBlue

Oooh I love you!!