accounts in different names

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

My husband has left after 20 years of marriage, a lot of our stuff is tangled up so we're going to have to work together to sort it all out.

My question is that I have always worked in my own name so that account is called Ms R Goodhair, whereas our joint account is Ms R Marriedname. I have to continue my own account as that is where I get paid but I guess legally my name is my married name.

I'm not sure I want to change it because it's DD's name as well and she would prefer us to be called the same.

I have applied for a credit card using the details from the joint account (as I can't actually prove my identity from my own account).

Do you think I should open up a new current account in my married name so I don't have any future problems with mixed identity?

I realised the problem when they asked me for ID to approve the credit card using my own account and I realised that everything official uses my married name.

I could continue to get paid into the Goodhair account and then transfer the money into the Marriedname account a bit like I do at the moment only it's into the joint account which has now had me taken off it.

Surely it would be easier to change the name on your birth name current account (you just need to provide the bank with the wedding cert I think) than change everything else back?

Sorry I should have said that I freelance so think it would look odd to work in one name and ask to be paid in another.

Why can't you prove your identity? All you need is your marriage certificate? You can get another copy if it's lost.

It's not unusual to use both surnames, I think you're overthinking it a bit.

I possibly am - it's just applying for the credit card from my single account asked for 2 forms of ID and I don't have anything in that name other than the bank account.

I don't know, I'm just worried.

It shouldn't take long to sort out. Whilst it's not uncommon to use both names; your legal documents should match your credit file.
If you use your marriage certificate to change the sole account you should be able to get it done quickly at your branch.
Make sure your household bills and voters roll match also.
Doing this will make things simpler and easier in the long run. It will also stop having a confused credit file and potentially lift your credit rating.
If you don't like to go to your branch; call telephone banking for advice.
It's all pretty straightforward and nothing to worry about.

Sorry I'm really confused - are you saying I do need to change the name on my own account so it matches bills, passports and so on?

I think I'll open a new current account as Ms R Marriedname and keep the 2 running. I can't think straight, it's just another bit of crap to deal with.

Sorry.

You would just apply with 2 forms of ID and supply your marriage certificate as well.

But as pp, it's easy to change your name on your present current account.

In your position I think I'd ask to see somebody at the bank and explain the situation and ask them what is the best thing to do in your circumstances.

Sorry I'm not making myself clear, I don't want to change my current account into my married name. But I can't apply for anything using that account as I can't prove my identity.

I haven't explained very well.

I've just applied for another account in my married name though so that will match with all the other official documents for the future. Thinking mainly of when I have to apply for a single mortgage.

Thank you!

But you can prove your identity with your marriage certificate? Plus two other forms of ID. The marriage certificate would confirm the name change where there's a difference in surname on the forms of ID.

The banks are funny about it though category12 and god knows what will happen with the mortgage application.

I think having one in either name is probably best for the moment.

2 forms of ID - bank account, birth certificate, marriage certificate all show your maiden name.
Can't see the issue?

They want a letter from a utility supplier or something as part of the identity checks and everything there is in Marriedname.

Amusingly a bank statement from them to me in the right name wouldn't count (although as I do all the banking online that is also impossible to get hold of!!).

I changed back to my previous name after divorce, and had to sign a declaration that I would cease to use my married name (deed poll for passport and DVLA). I've heard the banks take a dim view of multiple names.

I don't think it would look odd to work in one name and be paid in the other, which name does HMRC recognise you by? Surely that needs to link to the bank account?

HMRC use my married name but I pay my tax bills from my own account and they've never queried it.

It sounds like it'd be a lot easier in the long run if you get the current account you currently have changed to your married name as well. Then it's all straightforward from there.

Don’t change your name- why should you?

I use both my own name and my married name, have bank and savings accounts in both, which is absolutely fine and completely legal providing you are not doing it to defraud the taxman/launder money (a few times in the past 25 years, officious bank employees have told me that I HAVE to change all my accounts to one name, and I said no, I don’t!). All the accounts are linked to the same address anyway.

Why not change one (or more) of your utilitiy bills into your maiden name? Problem solved.

Thank you lettuce!

Could you work as Ms Goodhair and at home and with DD be Mrs Married name. Keep working and getting paid in the name your business contacts know.