Teen has changed name but can't enrol

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Hi I'd be grateful for any legal advice. My 16 year changed her name to mine as soon as she turned 16 after using this in school for years already through her own choice. After years of sporadic contact with her (useless) bio father (unfortunately with PR) she now wants nothing more to do with him and has no contact.
She did her own deed poll and it has been easy enough to change for official school records, GP surgery, dentist etc.

However, to be able to change her passport, she needs to have a permission letter from both parents (which he will never give). This also means she can't get her learners driving licence in her name, or her bank account as these have the same requirements. She can wait until she's 18 to enrol the name change, but this is another 2 years for her to be attached to a name she doesn't want and she finds it very upsetting.

She has asked me if there is a court order or something we could apply for that would allow her to fully change her name without having to wait. I have tried researching this online, but can only find information that says "16 year-olds can change their own name and it's not a problem anywhere" when clearly it is.

Please can anyone give advice about this?

Thanks in advance.

www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/change-a-childs-name

You can apply for a court order. This page tells you what to do

Has your teen applied for an adult passport?
Reading the links on the gov webpage it looks as if she applies on her own behalf she has no requirement to get PR signoff.
She may have to supply a copy of her fathers birth cert etc

www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport

Thank you. As she is 16 will I apply for it or will the court ask her to be a part of the proceedings? She would be happy to tell someone this is what she wants but not to face him in court if that's how it would work.

It says about mediation but that will not happen because of past (and recent) abuse.

I don't even know his current address. I have a mobile number for him but that's it. Will they find out his details or am I supposed to do that?

She's has her first adult passport already which is why we became aware of the issue. Anyone under 18 needs a parental consent letter from both parents with PR to have their name changed. (Ie different from previous passports or birth certificate)

[quote SolasAnla]Has your teen applied for an adult passport?
Reading the links on the gov webpage it looks as if she applies on her own behalf she has no requirement to get PR signoff.
She may have to supply a copy of her fathers birth cert etc

www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport[/quote]
The passport office may not accept the unenrolled deed poll as proof of name change which is what the issue is

It's very unfair that all the information states that 16 year-olds can change their own name when that turns out not to be the case for the most important documents.

.
There are situations when both parents cannot give consent.
I wrote with my dc' that dad's whereabouts was unknown and if they track him down let me know so I can send csa after him 😂

I would be tempted to try for the new passport with the deed poll she has done. She has plenty of proof that she is using the new name and has chosen to change it herself

My sisters dd had her name changed without permission or a court order

Thanks so much I've just looked at the passport requirements and it actually looks like she can just apply herself for a name change on the passport by sending in her documents because she's over 16 and already has an adult passport! 😀 I found it so confusing because it says that under 18 they need parental consent but she already has an adult passport now so I guess it's different. Felt like I was going in circles.

I'm going to get her to do this and hopefully she'll be able to have it all sorted without having to involve him or the courts.