Name change confusion

[ElyElyOy]

I was born Miss Jane (Louise) Smith.

I was married and signed my marriage certificate as Mrs Jane (Louise) Jones.

I am now known as Miss, Ms or Mrs Jane (Louise) Smith (depending on what I sign, im not consistent ) and have nothing in my married name (except my marriage certificate).

Now I want to officially change my name by deedpoll to Mrs Jane (Louise Smith) Jones. However I am concerned about what I put as my former name - do I put my married name (that I have never used, but is my legal name) or my maiden name (that is on all legal documents including my passport)?

I’m worried because I need to renew my passport and I’m concerned that when I do if I have a deed poll that is wrong they won’t accept it. Or would I be better to renew my passport in my married name, and then change my name by deed poll leaving my passport in my “old/new” name?

Well done to anyone who followed that!

You don't sign marriage certificates in a different name, you sign them in your existing name I.e. maiden name. You don't automatically change name upon marriage so what you're saying is your legal name isn't as it doesn't sound like you actually changed it when you got married.

I'd use your maiden name as your former name if that's what's on your passport

But i signed my marriage certificate as Jane (Louise) Jones so isn’t that legally a name change? Even if I chose not to use it?

You don't need a deed poll.

Your marriage certificate shows your maiden name and husband's name. Send a certified copy to the passport office and renew your passport :)

You should have signed it Miss Jane Smith as you were/are Miss Jane Smith. After you are married you can call yourself Mrs Jane Jones if you want to and your marriage certificate is recognised proof of this "name change", but you do not have to. I am Mrs Jane Jones at home and Ms Jane Smith at work, I have ID in both names, completely legal. I would say for the deed poll your former name is Miss Jane Smith and new name Mrs Jane Louise Smith Jones.

You aren't supposed to sign it in a different name though. You use the marriage certificate to change your name afterwards of that's what you want.

I don't think you will actually need a deed poll as the new name is comprised of both yours and your husband's name. I would send the passport renewal with the marriage certificate and stating your full new name

Old passport in old name. Marriage cert shows husbands surname. That's all passport office needs.

But the new name I want puts my maiden name as a middle name, so nothing I have is in that “made up” name?

You can keep your maiden name and use DH name for passport with just marriage certificate at long last!

Also to add I have no documents with my new name on at all (where my maiden name is a middle name) so I can’t have my name changed on my passport to anything other than my married name.

I don’t want to keep my maiden name, I want my married name (legally, I will continue to use my maiden name professionally) but I only want my married name with my maiden name as a middle name.

You could double barrel your surname without a hyphen? If it's only going to be your passport and driving licence does it matter?

Otherwise you do need to get a registered deed poll before applying for a passport.

I don't see why that would be a problem. You don't need a deed poll. You have proof of who you are - passport. You have good evidence that shows your new name, even keeping your maiden name as a middle name, isn't an attempt to defraud. This is a non-problem.

@titchy the passport office explicitly ask for evidence of the new name which I haven’t got (2 forms of it plus a deed poll or signed affidavit).

@RandomMess can I just start double barrelling (without a hyphen)? I was told that I should have done that when I signed the wedding register and certificate (by the Priest, who failed to tell me until after the wedding )

Yeah it's what I did/do.

Known as Mrs DH surname but legally Mrs my name no hyphen his name

The rules for names post marriage clearly state marriage certificate for proof of new name.

You really should have your bank accounts in your legal name due to money laundering laws I could see potential issues moving house...

I don’t think you’re actually married, you should no have signed the register in a name that wasn’t yours!!
Double barrel would be so much easier. Then you can add or drop one name at work or home. Or just keep your own name and have done with all the palaver, possibly.

The priest was mistaken. You are supposed to sign the wedding register with the surname that you entered your contract of marriage in, i.e. your maiden name. If you want to change your name on marriage, the marriage certificate is then proof of the change of name.

Just a word of warning, if you change your name by deed poll after renewing your passport to something different, it will make it invalid. When you change your name by deed poll, you state that you are abandoning your previous name.