Name change via deed poll

[Knits4eva]

I have been wanting to change my first name now since I was old enough to speak but I’ve always been talked out of it.

I’m getting married in 6 months and I will be changing my surname.

I don’t want to wait any longer as I will be starting a new career and I don’t want to start off with a different name to what I want to be called. (My preference, I know it’s not a biggie).

I lost my passport a few months ago and had a holiday booked so I had to order a passport in my legal name, otherwise I would have changed it then.

So my question is, what is the best way to go about changing my name now?
Can I leave my passport until after I get married as I don’t really want to pay three times in one year.

And is it best to get an enrolled or unenrolled deed poll?

Call yourself by whatever name you want to, starting now.

Download and fill in form from internet. Make several copies, each with original signatures from witnesses.

Use the Deed Poll if you ever need to, probably only for Driving License and Passport.

An unenrolled deed poll will be fine and doesn't cost anything.

Thanks for your reply. It would be lovely but as I’m starting fresh with a new job and college I want to be able to start with my official name and not have documents in one name and call myself something else.

I'd leave the passport until after you get married - are you taking your partners surname? If so, get married, get the marriage certificate (showing new surname) then change deed-poll and then change your passport. Then you won't need to change in-between the two!

Depends on the timings of starting a new job though, marriage certificates can take a while to come through.