changing name back to maiden name

[jenny99]

Hi....can anyone advise me please on changing my name back to maiden name after divorce. Do I have to do this by Deed Poll? I've looked at their website (UK Deed Poll). They suggest that if I was with certain companies/institutions before marriage, e.g. bank, they should still have my records so that may be ok. How 'officially', do I need to change my details everywhere? Am a little concerned over how to do it in one foul swoop so that I don't appear to be 2 different people whilst there are any overlaps?! Any advice welcomed please.
Thank you.
(I have had decree nisi, but not absolute yet).
Jen x

Citizens' Advice state the name change can be done based on the decree absolute. If you want to do it before then you need to use a deed poll.

I can vaguely remember that I started off with my passport, for which I needed my original birth certificate & separation documentation (had a 2 year separation before divorce).

Then once I had the new passport I could gradually change other things eg driving licence, bank accounts etc.

HTH.

Usually your Decree Absolute is sufficient evidence.

(It's "one fell swoop" btw, though I have a vivid picture in my head now of a "foul swoop").

I changed my name (passport, driver's licence, NHS records, HMRC, bank accounts, everything) without either a deed poll or divorce papers (as I'm not).

I applied for a new passport with a letter saying that I wished to be known by my maiden name and supplied the documentary evidence. There was no problem whatsoever. I then did the same with driver's license and so on.

thank you all....I'd better start swooping! x

You won't need a deed poll. There's no legal requirement to have changed your name, your name didn't actually change, you just chose to use another one, so nothing needs to be done when you change back.

That's right Caitlin, but if OP wants to change her name on her passport or driving license or at her bank she'll need some evidence that her name has changed.

I've just been through this and got lots of advice after starting a similiar thread.
Passports aren't as difficult to change as you might imagine. I sent in my decree absolute (which actually still showed my married name), my initial divorce papers (which showed my maiden name), marriage cert, birth cert, signed photos and a written letter saying I was changing my name back. I'd definitely get the passport changed first as it will make everything else much easier.
The trickest one to change was my GP surgery who insisted I change my name by deed poll. They did go back on this after I explained my legal rights though.
It's a very time consuming process and a lot of places will insist on written letters of the change. I'm never changing my name again.

oh my bank was the one of the first places I informed. The decree absolute was enough evidence for them.

I was able to revert to my maiden name at the bank and on my passport very easily. However the dvla wanted to see divirce paperwork before they would change my name.

One of the hardest issues I had was persuading TV licensing... 2nd hardest was British Gas. 3rd problem was the breakdown company

Everything else was straight forward

You don't need your divorce paperwork, just a paper trail to show your maiden name and that it changed to your married name at some point. I know because I lost my divorce papers and thought I'd need to source another copy but never needed them.