How do you go about changing your surname?sorry-long and boring!

[ash6605]

sorry didn't know where else to post this.i have a son to my previous partner,son always used my maiden,its on his birth certificate as his dad wasn't interested in being named(thats a whole other story!)when i had my daughter to my now husband(we weren't married at the time)i also gave her my maiden name as i didn't want my children to have different surnames.because the kids have my surname on their birth certificates it means their passport has my maiden name on and that really bugs me as when DH and i married,my passport was changed into my married name.at school,doctors,dentiste.t.c the kids are known as our married name which is great but i was wondering if there was a legal way to change their names officially.i was also wondering if i could change my own name officially(my mother is dead and i'm now estranged from my father who has recently hurt me in an unforgivable way and i just want to wipe his name off my childrens and my certificate.i have heard it is possible but wondered if anyone knew for definate how to go about doing it.would i need permission from DS father(who pays C.S.A)would i need to ask permission from my own "father"? any advice greatly appreciated. thanks.

OK - easiest one is your dd. You had her before you married her dad, yes? Did you re-register her after you were married? If not, you can re-register her now and change her name to your married name.

You own birth certificate can't be changed - you can call yourself whatever you like but the birth cerificate will remain the same. You can't remove your dad's details.

Again, your son can be called whatever you like, just start to use the new name. But again you can't change his original certificate. You can change the name by deed poll to get an official document but I'm not sure about permission from his dad.

bump

A statutory declaration for your DD is cheaper than a deed poll and will do the trick - the "official thing" to hand over when you tell people to amend their records.

Can't add anything about your son. You may or may not need his permission, but either way the original certificates stay as they are

If your ex partner has parental responsibility you will need his permission to change your son's name.