When would we have to use both names - info needed.

[upanddownthehill]

Our new DC will have both our surnames as we both want to pass on our family names. At the same time, though, we only plan to use one of them on a daily basis as we're not actually that keen on double barrelled names.

Can I ask if anyone else does this - either yourself or your DCs?

My main question is: which forms, situations etc would we have to use both names. We really want to keep the use of both down to a minimum for simplicity. Thanks

Firstly, anything Official would require you to incluse the full name, as on the Birth Certificate. This includes, ant government agencys, school, G.P. Passport, any service such as Dental, Clinic, Opticians...BUT, even though the school would have the full names down on their Official paperwork, you could point out that you only want to include the one particular side of the name. The trouble with all of this is that services we use are all linked, and they all head back eventually to our Birth Certificates, Passports. I would consider your primary aim very thoughtfully as this is going to confuse a lot of people especially your DC x

Is it an option to use one of the names as a middle name?

So instead of Smith-Jones, James Arthur he would be Jones, James Arthur Smith.

Not sure I have explained that well but it keeps the name as part of his name without giving it surname "status" and is the simplest solution.

A person can legally be known by whatever name s/he likes regardless of passport, etc. It is just that procedural things like passports, banks, doctors, etc have to be in the official name. I knew someone at school who was officially Ben T...-P... but now goes by Ben P... ; similarly a colleague Jack S...-H... goes by Jack H. It is only confusing if IT departments set up their work email with the longer name!

of course - you can name them whatever you want

We've done this. DS has my name as his third middle name, and his dad's as his surname.

I was given my mother's maiden name as a middle name (Lee) but now I am married, I am stuck with it, but have lost my surname (Jones). Worth bearing in mind if you have a girl! I don't think my parents thought that far ahead...

My DS has my surname as a second middle name too, so he can decide if he wants to use it when he's older. Will make travel easier too as some places can be suspicious if you are travelling with a child with a different surname to you.

Btw, you don't have to use your full name on your passport. I hate my middle name so I don't have it on my passport. They called me to check as I dropped it when I was renewing my passport, but didn't have any problem not including it. I didn't use it when I applied for my mortgage recently either, so it's not on the title deed etc.
It would be different for a double barrelled surname though I guess.