The dreaded name change

[namechange106]

Hi all

im getting married in 5 months and I was going to make a start on changing my name with unimportant things like store cards and online retail accounts, but I’m not sure if any problems with arise from this? Everything else will take so long I thought I’d get a head start!

I have a few years left on my passport so was going to leave this in my maiden name, has anyone come across any problems doing this? I know passports are usually used for ID and it won’t match anything else once I change everything else. And Of course I would need to remember to book any holidays in my maiden name.
thanks 😀

I changed everything after getting married, it was simple with the marriage certificate. Started with bank accounts so that I had a bank card with new name in case other places wanted ID. That probably will only be easy once you are married.

I double barrelled though and that raised some eyebrows in the mid 90’s.

You can actually change your name on your passport up to three months before your marriage and it is post dated to the date of marriage, my friend recently did this as she wanted to go on holiday in her new name.

I'd hate to be so narrow minded that I could understand why someone either would or wouldn't want to change their name. There are some seriously nasty people on this thread!

I actually changed my name by deadpole as we has DS1 before we got married, my divorce hadn't come through and we always knew we would get married so rather than changing back to my maiden name I changed it to now DHs surname. Never regretted it at all, it was my decision and he never expected it. In RL most people I know have taken their DHs names, these range from early 20s upwards, some have double barrelled but the kids have taken their dads name.

I don't think it's old fashioned, it's just nice to have the choice to do it because you want to. For me I wanted us to all have the same surname. If we didn't have kids I may not have bothered, not sure really.

Oops typo *couldn't understand

I changed my name when I got married last year, not particularly arduous I just changed stuff as I went along.

@bakewellbride Nope! You can just change your name and use a name, as long as you don't do it to defraud anyone. You need documentation for driving licence, passport etc, but not for store cards, library membership type things , or even applying for a job.

Because she wants too?

I'm sure she's aware of that, but you know some people want to change their name when they get married ,there is no right or wrong.

Good for you ,you do realise people can have different opinions to you?
Why do posters have to be so unpleasant?

@SausageAndCash just because you technically can change a store card to 'Mrs whatever' without showing a marriage certificate doesn't actually make it your name though. That's what i was trying to get at. Maybe we can just agree to disagree.

So many people sneering and jeering in here! Irl just about every woman my age I know who has got married in the last 10/11 years has taken taken her DHs name or double barrelled. I'm early 30s. It's great we have the choice now. Let OP exercise hers- as long as you're doing it because you want to, OP.

I'm getting married next year and think I'll change. I wouldn't do any of the changing paperwork until afterwards though. Just to be certain. You can change a passport beforehand though; a colleague did this. Mine will have 4 years left to run post wedding so I will probably wait that one out!

Strange how on MN apparently NOBODY has their husband's name. Meanwhile, in real life, nearly everyone does and it's no drama whatsoever.

But legally, yes it DOES make it your name!

From the gov.uk website: “You do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name”

www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll

It says you ‘might’ need deed poll for official documents (and mostly you do, but that doesn’t make it a legal requirement for using an alternative name).

As someone who had to postpone their wedding twice, very close to the date, my advice would be don't do it until you're married. Most places seem to want your marriage certificate anyway. I started by booking tickets in my married name for events that took place after the wedding. I'm quite enjoying it as a post wedding task (it's still not entirely sunk in yet)

@SausageAndCash that's a government link about changing your name via deedpoll which undermines your argument slightly! Imo if I go onto my new look app or whatever and change my name to something it doesn't technically make it my name and my friend who is a solicitor with over a decade of legal education agrees with me so like i said let's just agree to disagree. I can see your pov.

Really? Why is that any if your business? She clearly wants to do it so why are you judging her?

Maybe she hates her own name? Maybe she wants to take her new name for her new married life. Maybe it is none of your business and you should stop judging

I'm changing mine because my current name is that of some bloke my mum married when I was a kid.
Whether she changes her name is up to her, that's not what she asked

I wouldn't want to change my name on anything until the marriage had taken place.

I would change bank accounts before store cards

If you don't keep a bank account matching your passport name, then until that catches up, it will probably be more straightforward if your DH does all bookings for travel abroad (so payer's name matches one of the adults on the booking). Car hire abroad might be better done by him as well.

I don't think that matters, I've booked all our holidays recently with my maiden name but used a card in my married name, no ones queried it. Not sure about car hire but I suspect a long as you have your marriage certificate to match up your driving licence and passport it won't be a problem.