Name change

[Happycat1212]

Another post got me thinking, I would like to change my daughters surname, she has both mine and exes (but not double barrelled) I would like to remove his completely but although he is absent he would never agree, we have no contact with him and she doesn’t see him. I’ve heard I can change it on deed poll without his permission but it just wouldn’t be accepted by the passport office but will be accepted everywhere else, which is fine, does anyone know if this is the case or has anyone done this?

It shouldn’t be accepted anywhere if everyone follows the law.

My daughter is already down as just my name at school / drs etc so I think it’s just the same as that only a bit more official.

It won’t be accepted anywhere official. She can have a known as name at school without a deed poll - which it sounds like she does - but her certificates will be in her legal name, as will her passport and driving license, bank accounts, etc.

If he won’t consent, you won’t be able to legally change it until she’s old enough. I’d just use “known as” names until then. The deedpoll will just confuse things and make life more difficult when she’s older, if she’s got various things in various names.

The school and doctor shouldn't have accepted it. Government guidance is clear that they should only accept a change of name if either they have evidence that everyone with PR has consented to the change or there is a court order permitting the change. This is reflects the position taken by the courts. Even a "known as" name should not be allowed.

That’s strange as they definitely have accepted it, I get nothing in exes name and daughter is known just as my name by everyone. Maybe it’s because it’s both our names? So easy to drop one?

I'm not surprised. A lot of schools and others ignore the law on this, particularly when they only have dealings with one parent.

This is what I found.. yes father has never been to the school ever or had any contact with them. Daughter is now in year 5.

The kind of information that website says you need to include in a letter just shows that they haven't a clue what they are doing. You need do no such thing. You need father's consent or an order of the court.

There are a number of websites who call themselves a name that suggests they are official. They are not.

I see. I’ve spoken to a solicitor in the past but they said that courts would not agree to remove a surname completely (only to double barrel) regardless of any circumstances, which of course we already have.