Changing married name after separation and fivorce

[Zerrin13]

I was wondering what others have done regarding changing their married names after separation and divorce? I'm really starting to want to rid myself of his name but I'm not yet divorced. Has anyone done this? I don't want to go back to my maiden name because I bloody hated it when I had it before and was glad to see the back of it!
My 2 teenagers have father's name and wouldn't see any reason to change so would be keeping their surname.
Thanks in advance

Just bumping this up

I paid to have mine changed by Deed Poll before petitioning for Divorce....you can, i believe, change it when the Absolute comes through but then if not reverting back to your Maiden name, I assume you'd still have to go down the Deed Poll route anyway?

I kept it until I remarried 6 months after the divorce was finalised. It was my name too!

If you like the name you can legally keep it for the rest of your life

If you don't like the name then you can revert back to the name you were born with at anytime you like as it's on your birth certificate.

If you want a new name you can use Deed Poll to change it at any time you like.

If you change your name it is easiest to change your passport and driving license first as they are used as ID, then start changing everything else to match.

You can change your name anytime you like without Deed Poll to a completely new name as long as you aren't aiming to defraud someone, but financial institutions can be difficult in accepting name changes due to money laundering regulations.

In regards to children - under 16 they need both parents permission to change their name. Fathers can and do go to court to stop mothers changing their children's name to the mother's. Over 16 it is the child's choice and they can use Deed Poll to change it.