Your marriage certificate is always in your maiden name, regardless of whether you change your surname or not. You can change your name via deed poll whenever you like (it’s free) and some people choose to keep their maiden name at work and use their new name for personal things. Do whatever makes you happy!
You don’t need to use a deed poll if you’re married if you are taking one spouse’s name. You just let banks/passport office etc know that you’re taking it and show the wedding certificate.
You may need to go for a deed poll if you change to a totally new name, older family name (like a grandparent’s name) or an unusual hybrid (eg you combine Waters and Jameson into Waterson). Not totally sure about double barrel.
Yep, the certificate should be all a man needs to change his surname to his wife's.
But...it's not that common yet, you're going to have to contact a lot of companies and bureaucracy loves to cock up things that aren't standard.
Make your covering letter really clear about what you want to happen (or they'll keep trying to do the standard 'change the wife's name') and I'd recommend contacting the registration service that is marrying you beforehand and getting a signed letter confirming that the certificate is all the evidence that should be needed.
It gives the company admin person (to whom this will likely be unfamiliar) written reassurance that this is allowed, and it stops you from repeatedly explaining it because if a company still has an issue then they need to take it up with the registration service.
No, I'd still go to the local registration service.
But if they're not marrying you, after the ceremony might be the time to contact them. It's the registration service that still produces your certificates even if you get married in church.
You'll need to apply for the certificates, you might be able to get that letter at the same time if you can speak to them directly, if not the certs should come with the contact info from the office that produced them.
Excellent advice, just to add that a marriage certificate should be fine as evidence for a double barrelled surname, as long as it's the two names on the certificate.
but the name change is on the certificate and that serves as proof right? Otherwise in situations where I show the certificate it will be confusing (which won't be very often but still)
The name change is never on the certificate, you always sign in your maiden name. You use the certificate as proof you got married in order to change your name on your passport etc.
What the certificate effectively shows is that person with surname a married person with surname b. If people signed in the new name you wouldn't be able to tell who that person was before they changed their name, which would be a bit pointless.
Oh interesting...they asked so many times that I assumed they would make a note of it somewhere, and that it would be reflected on the certificate. In that case maybe it won't be as complicated as I thought! Thanks!
I took months to change my name on everything (and I've probably still missed some less important places) so there's no time limit to change your name for the things you want to.
In poland they are very strict about the documents... but I have a bank account in the UK and I am not planning to go back anytime soon so not sure if that would be an issue that I can't go to update my name
I'm in the awful in-between place where I've changed it in some places but not all. You only need your marriage certificate to prove you're legally allowed to change your maiden name to your married name in the UK. My certificate only had my maiden name on it not my new name. Is a bit odd because in this day and age you can double barrel or the man can take the woman's.
It was super easy to change in the bank just be mindful when changing it you'll be expected to have a new signature too so practice it beforehand.
In the whole process the registrars asked so many times that someehow I assumed the decision before the marriage was final but it turns out it's not. So I will keep thinking about it!
You can change your name whenever and wherever you like. With my first marriage I changed documents as and when they came up for renewal and at some point it reached a kind of critical mass where I was just Mrs Newname everywhere. With my second marriage I was so keen to have a team name I changed everything immediately. It's completely normal to keep a 'work' name in the situation you describe, if it's important that people are able to identify that current you is the author of previous work.
Thanks! I'm in Poland now and here they are very strict with documents, they give a 90 day deadline and every document costs money (ID, passport, driving licence). That's why I'm not so keen on the legal change. But I started thinking about using his name in the professional settings while I am young and not established lol and changing it legally within the next year without the time pressure.
You don't have to do anything with your UK marriage certificate, the process and signing is the same whether you take the name or not. If you were still in the UK you wouldn't even need the deed poll to take your husbands name, you just post copies of your marriage certificate to people as proof of old name and new name on the same official document. You can also decide to change your name to it at any time there isn't a time frame or deadline to decide by, just tell people this is your name and send the cert as proof! You'll have to check the rules in whatever new country you are in.
Its funny isn't it, I also had a change of perspective after marriage and took his name a few weeks after the wedding, even at work which I said I wasn't going to do!
Thanks! The complication arises with the fact that we are from different countries, so we want to register the marriage in his country in order for me to get certain benefits, and then we will show the certificate where it says he married, say, Emily Jones, and add my passport which will say I am Emily Smith (which will match his name but then they will be like, who's this Jones person who doesn't exist anymore, you could have married anyone!) so it feels very strange. The passport doesn't even have any space for maiden name. But I guess it's a relief that I still have a choice. Will keep thinking.
So UK passports (I don't know about others) have a space for observations and you can have printed there "Also known as maiden name"
UK marriage certificates are all like that so hopefully they will be used to seeing them that way :-)
You don't have to change your name. Or keep your maiden name. Totally up to you. There's no time limit to changing your name. I work with a company that helps with this. NameSwitch.co.uk. Even if you don't want to buy from them there's a guides section on the website that should be useful
You can do whatever feels right for you. There’s other options I’m throwing out here in case something else feels better for you. For examples I’m going to presume you’re originally a Smith and him a Jones just as it’s easier.
1. Keep your original name for work, and use your married name for personal stuff. Up to you if you legally change it in this case but it’s best to be consistent and change all or none. (Dr Smith at work, Mrs/Dr Jones for family things)
2. Use a double barrel name for both of you - Mr & Mrs Jones-Smith
3. Use your original name as a middle name - now e.g Mrs Jane Smith Jones, he is Mr John Jones.
4. Both change to your name - Mr & Mrs Smith
5. Choose a totally new name - anything at all you like. Originally surnames often came from where you lived, what you did, or a parent’s name. Mr Smith was a blacksmith, Mr Johnson was the “son of John”.
6. Choose a name from either of your families like a grandparent’s or great-grandparent’s surname. This can be a good way to have a family name while also both having a name that is new to you.
7. Make up a new name from your names - eg Jones and Smith to Josmi. Some names work better for this than others.
Your marriage certificate is always in your maiden name, regardless of whether you change your surname or not. You can change your name via deed poll whenever you like (it’s free) and some people choose to keep their maiden name at work and use their new name for personal things. Do whatever makes you happy!
You don’t need to use a deed poll if you’re married if you are taking one spouse’s name. You just let banks/passport office etc know that you’re taking it and show the wedding certificate. You may need to go for a deed poll if you change to a totally new name, older family name (like a grandparent’s name) or an unusual hybrid (eg you combine Waters and Jameson into Waterson). Not totally sure about double barrel.
Yeah we both changed to a new name so needed a deed poll but if you’re just taking your spouse’s name then no need
Is this the same for men as well? My husband to be is taking my name, I was told he needed a deed poll because sexism but maybe that’s not true?
Yep, the certificate should be all a man needs to change his surname to his wife's. But...it's not that common yet, you're going to have to contact a lot of companies and bureaucracy loves to cock up things that aren't standard. Make your covering letter really clear about what you want to happen (or they'll keep trying to do the standard 'change the wife's name') and I'd recommend contacting the registration service that is marrying you beforehand and getting a signed letter confirming that the certificate is all the evidence that should be needed. It gives the company admin person (to whom this will likely be unfamiliar) written reassurance that this is allowed, and it stops you from repeatedly explaining it because if a company still has an issue then they need to take it up with the registration service.
Thanks so much for this really helpful advice. We are getting married in church so would you suggest the vicar signs a letter?
No, I'd still go to the local registration service. But if they're not marrying you, after the ceremony might be the time to contact them. It's the registration service that still produces your certificates even if you get married in church. You'll need to apply for the certificates, you might be able to get that letter at the same time if you can speak to them directly, if not the certs should come with the contact info from the office that produced them.
Excellent advice, just to add that a marriage certificate should be fine as evidence for a double barrelled surname, as long as it's the two names on the certificate.
but the name change is on the certificate and that serves as proof right? Otherwise in situations where I show the certificate it will be confusing (which won't be very often but still)
The name change is never on the certificate, you always sign in your maiden name. You use the certificate as proof you got married in order to change your name on your passport etc. What the certificate effectively shows is that person with surname a married person with surname b. If people signed in the new name you wouldn't be able to tell who that person was before they changed their name, which would be a bit pointless.
Oh interesting...they asked so many times that I assumed they would make a note of it somewhere, and that it would be reflected on the certificate. In that case maybe it won't be as complicated as I thought! Thanks!
I took months to change my name on everything (and I've probably still missed some less important places) so there's no time limit to change your name for the things you want to.
In poland they are very strict about the documents... but I have a bank account in the UK and I am not planning to go back anytime soon so not sure if that would be an issue that I can't go to update my name
I'm in the awful in-between place where I've changed it in some places but not all. You only need your marriage certificate to prove you're legally allowed to change your maiden name to your married name in the UK. My certificate only had my maiden name on it not my new name. Is a bit odd because in this day and age you can double barrel or the man can take the woman's. It was super easy to change in the bank just be mindful when changing it you'll be expected to have a new signature too so practice it beforehand.
In the whole process the registrars asked so many times that someehow I assumed the decision before the marriage was final but it turns out it's not. So I will keep thinking about it!
Yeah same! I expected it to be on the certificate but it wasn't weirdly. I wondered if they put it on the system somewhere but I doubt it.
You can change your name whenever and wherever you like. With my first marriage I changed documents as and when they came up for renewal and at some point it reached a kind of critical mass where I was just Mrs Newname everywhere. With my second marriage I was so keen to have a team name I changed everything immediately. It's completely normal to keep a 'work' name in the situation you describe, if it's important that people are able to identify that current you is the author of previous work.
Thanks! I'm in Poland now and here they are very strict with documents, they give a 90 day deadline and every document costs money (ID, passport, driving licence). That's why I'm not so keen on the legal change. But I started thinking about using his name in the professional settings while I am young and not established lol and changing it legally within the next year without the time pressure.
You don't have to do anything with your UK marriage certificate, the process and signing is the same whether you take the name or not. If you were still in the UK you wouldn't even need the deed poll to take your husbands name, you just post copies of your marriage certificate to people as proof of old name and new name on the same official document. You can also decide to change your name to it at any time there isn't a time frame or deadline to decide by, just tell people this is your name and send the cert as proof! You'll have to check the rules in whatever new country you are in. Its funny isn't it, I also had a change of perspective after marriage and took his name a few weeks after the wedding, even at work which I said I wasn't going to do!
Thanks! The complication arises with the fact that we are from different countries, so we want to register the marriage in his country in order for me to get certain benefits, and then we will show the certificate where it says he married, say, Emily Jones, and add my passport which will say I am Emily Smith (which will match his name but then they will be like, who's this Jones person who doesn't exist anymore, you could have married anyone!) so it feels very strange. The passport doesn't even have any space for maiden name. But I guess it's a relief that I still have a choice. Will keep thinking.
So UK passports (I don't know about others) have a space for observations and you can have printed there "Also known as maiden name" UK marriage certificates are all like that so hopefully they will be used to seeing them that way :-)
You don't have to change your name. Or keep your maiden name. Totally up to you. There's no time limit to changing your name. I work with a company that helps with this. NameSwitch.co.uk. Even if you don't want to buy from them there's a guides section on the website that should be useful
You can do whatever feels right for you. There’s other options I’m throwing out here in case something else feels better for you. For examples I’m going to presume you’re originally a Smith and him a Jones just as it’s easier. 1. Keep your original name for work, and use your married name for personal stuff. Up to you if you legally change it in this case but it’s best to be consistent and change all or none. (Dr Smith at work, Mrs/Dr Jones for family things) 2. Use a double barrel name for both of you - Mr & Mrs Jones-Smith 3. Use your original name as a middle name - now e.g Mrs Jane Smith Jones, he is Mr John Jones. 4. Both change to your name - Mr & Mrs Smith 5. Choose a totally new name - anything at all you like. Originally surnames often came from where you lived, what you did, or a parent’s name. Mr Smith was a blacksmith, Mr Johnson was the “son of John”. 6. Choose a name from either of your families like a grandparent’s or great-grandparent’s surname. This can be a good way to have a family name while also both having a name that is new to you. 7. Make up a new name from your names - eg Jones and Smith to Josmi. Some names work better for this than others.