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how do you go about changing your name?

This is our reply.......

If you're an adult you can change your name at any time without needing anyone's consent as long as there's no intention to defraud or deceive anyone. You will not be able to change the name which is on your birth certificate except in very limited circumstances e.g. after a change of gender.

There's no legal procedure to go through. When you've decided on your new name you simply tell people that from whatever date you want to be known by your new name. In most cases this is all you need to do but there are some circumstances when you will
be asked to provide evidence that you have changed your name and this will vary depending on the purpose. The sort of evidence you may be asked for is:

· A letter from a responsible person e.g. your GP, your solicitor, your MP, a faith leader

· A public announcement in a national or local newspaper - we would suggest that this wouldn't be suitable for you to do as your family would still be able to recognise who you are if they saw it

· A statutory declaration. This is generally accepted as evidence of a change of name in most circumstances. It's a statement to the effect that you no longer want to be known by your previous name and from the date of the declaration you want to be known by your new name. A Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can help you draw up a declaration for no cost. You can find your nearest CAB listed in the Phone Book or by a search on http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/.  The declaration will then need to be witnessed by an authorised person: a solicitor who is also a Commissioner for Oaths (most are now) or the Clerk of a Magistrates or County Court. The cost for this will vary so ring them first to check

· A deed poll. You will need a deed poll if you are applying for a passport, or to change the name on your existing passport to your new name. As with a statutory declaration, you can get help from your local CAB. There are also solicitors and online services which can draw up deed polls but their costs will vary so shop around

These are the sort of people and organisations you need to tell about your name change. Like we said before some will require evidence of your name change:

· Your friends

· Your employer

· HM Revenue and Customs if you pay Income Tax or National Insurance, or receive Tax Credits

· Jobcentre Plus if you're receiving welfare benefits

· Your council if you pay rent or Council Tax, or receive Council Tax or Housing Benefits.

· Your doctor

· Your bank or building society (bank accounts, mortgage, personal loans, credit/debit cards etc.)

· Your insurance providers (life, house, car, pension etc.)

· The Identity & Passport Service if you have a passport

· DVLA if you have a driving licence

· The Land Registry if you own property in your own name

· Your college or university if you're studying

· The Student Loan Company if you have one

· Utilities e.g. gas, water, electricity, Internet Service Provider, landline/mobile phone provider

· Any clubs or societies you belong to

· Any services you subscribe to e.g. newspapers, magazines, book/music clubs

You can choose a new forename, surname, add names, drop names, chane the spelling of your old name or swap your original names round.

Here are some ideas which we hope will help you to choose your new name:

· Flowers: you're already named after one!

· Jewels: sapphire, emerald, topaz, pearl

· Colours: ruby, emerald and sapphire again, jade, sable

· Plants: rosemary, angelica, cicely, jasmine

· Weather phenomena: sky, gail/gayle

· Landscape features: tara ('high hill'), rochelle ('little rock')

· Religious: from e.g. the Bible, Qu'ran, Torah

· International names: tania, natasha (Russian); sinead, siobhan (Irish)

· The night sky: venus, selina ('the moon'), carina, berenice

· Ancient goddesses: athena, persephone, juno, diana, morgen, brigit

· Initials: KD ('kaydee). JC ('jaycee'), DD ('deedee')

We hope you find what we've said in our reply helpful and you are able to choose a name that has a special significance for you. Please email us again if you think we can help, about this or anything else.

 

Expert advice and every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information in this answer is trustworthy and reliable, but the publishers do not hold themselves responsible for any inaccuracy as information can go out of date very quickly.  This page gives general guidance only and should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.  With regard to suggested weblinks given in this reply please note that Lancashire County Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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