Changing my name post divorce - help please...

[whycantwegoonasthree]

After bloody YEARS I'm finally officially divorced. (Hurrah. Sort of. Mixed feelings even after being separated for ages... WEIRD.)

I'd like to go back to my maiden name, because I don't want to be forever associated with my ex, or his nationality. To be honest I've no fucking idea why I took his name in the first place. I didn't want to, but I got guilt-tripped/argued into it. (Which should have been a giant red flag in itself but ANYWAY...)

Questions/concerns:

Having a different surname from my children. I hate that it kind of makes me feel that they're somehow more 'his'. I tried suggesting double-barrelling, but the kids weren't keen and ex said no way. I know this is probably an emotional rather than a practical decision - so please talk some sense into me?

Does it make travelling with them abroad more difficult?

I shall probably ken my married name for work as most of my clients know me by that name and frankly I don't want to be discussing my personal life with them in explaining the name change. Is that making thing unduly complicated in your experience?

And lastly, how does one go about it? In what order? I'm feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of drowning in admin or missing something. Start with passport, electoral roll, driving license?

Ugh. Why did I ever change it in the first place?! Fucking medieval mindset...

Thanks in anticipation of help... !!

WCWGOA3

I have a different surname to my ds and it's really not that weird. I guess I've always had it though but even so, he still feels 100% mine! Travelling is fine, just carry a copy of their birth certificates.
I guess start with passport unless you have a long time left to run and use that to change everything else?

AdalindSchade, thanks for replying...

Just wondering if having their birth certificates will help if the name on the certificate is my married name not my maiden name and therefore won't match my passport... Or does the birth certificate have my maiden name on it too (can't remember!).

And yes, passport first makes sense...

I'll definitely do it in the new year, I think, as I have travel booked in December - and changing that lot will be a nightmare!