Legal query

[philmophlegm]

If you're female, and you get divorced, and you want to revert to your maiden name, what (if anything) do you need to do?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

It's not for me, obviously...

Comments

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

My situation was a little different, because I actually got divorced and took my pen-name rather than reverting to my maiden name. I had to get a change of name deed. However, I believe this is the case for any name change, even reverting to one's maiden name, if you want to be able to have it on legal documents such as your passport or bank account.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that divorce in the UK had the same abilities as marriage to allow any desired change of name. However, I know nothing to back up the opinion, so it is nothing more than that.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, you can call yourself what you like, at any time, so long as you can persaude your bank, employer etc to call you by the new name.

I've known people who have changed their names by deed poll, and people who have just changed their names!

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

You can change your name any time you like, simply by claiming that you have a new name.

You can use a deed poll as evidence that this is what you have done, and such a deed may make it easier to convince a bank etc to use the new name.

A marriage certificate, divorce papers etc are other bits of evidence that banks use when considering whether your change of name is likely to be kosher, but they don't of themselves do anything to change you name (AFAIK).

[purplecat]

I imagine the passport is the key here, at least I recall all the wedding books contain advice about how to get your surname changed on your passport in such a way that it can be used on your honeymoon. The government's passsport website is surprisingly silent on the issue of divorce (though I've only skimmed it), though it has special forms for getting married. But it also seems to have a general form for informing them of change of name, which presumably states the evidence you need to supply and mentions 24-hour Passport Adviceline, 0870 521 0410.

[chainmailmaiden]

The UK Deed Poll website should tell her everything she needs to know:

A Woman's name rights upon divorce