Do you know how to change your surname back to maiden name?

[Romanarama]

Although I'm happily married, having my husband's name on my passport has created bureaucratic problems in various countries where changing your name on marriage is not possible (we are expats). Can I change it back does anyone know? It would make things easier and I could just use my married name for domestic things.

I reverted to my maiden name after I split with Ex-DH, but well before the divorce. The Passport Office were quite happy to issue a new passport in my maiden name - they have quite a helpful phone service, although it might be costly from overseas. I closed my married name bank account in my old name, and opened a new one in my maiden name - again, the bank were fine because at that stage I had a passport and birth certificate in the maiden name.

The official answer is by Deed Poll, but in my case it has never been necessary. And when I remarried, I just kept the maiden name.

In the UK, you can legally call yourself anything you like as long as you aren't doing it for the purposes of fraud etc. So I'd just follow Hassled's suggestion of telling all the businesses and bureaucracies that Smith is your surname, not Jones. Send your birth cert. if you wish to convince them but legally there is no need. (In theory, however, with all the government's various schemes to interfere in private life, I'm sure birth cert. would be useful.)

Thanks. Will talk to the consulate about it. Glad to know it doesn't sound too complicated.