Changing your name
Not married or not civil partnered
If you are not married or not civil partnered and want to change your name on official documents, you will need to change your name by Deed Poll. However, birth certificates, marriage or civil partnership certificates and decree absolute or dissolution certificates cannot be changed.
Married or civil partnered
A person may change their surname to that of their partner when they marry or register a civil partnership simply by adopting the name. Marriage and civil partnership certificates are legal documents and should enable you to take your partner’s name on official documents like your driver’s licence or passport.
If you wish to combine your surname with your partner's, all government departments, the Passport Office and DVLA will accept a marriage or civil partnership certificate as evidence of a change to a double-barrelled surname.
If you wish to change your surname completely, this must be done by Deed Poll. Before the ceremony, one partner can change their name by Deed Poll, and then, when they marry or register their civil partnership, the other partner can take on the new name (but original names on birth certificates will remain unchanged).
It is possible to change the name on your passport up to three months before the wedding or civil partnership registration, but it cannot be used until the actual day of your marriage or registration. Make sure you have enough time (at least six weeks) to change the documents you need for your honeymoon before you travel.
You are strongly advised not to travel
overseas holding documents with different names.
Further information
UK
Deed Poll Service
Identity
and Passport Service
Glossary
Deed Poll: A
legal document that binds the person who signs it to the course of
action detailed on the Deed Poll document.
Deed Poll document: It provides documentary evidence that you have changed your name and that you are legally binding yourself to using your new name. A Deed Poll will be recognised by all UK government departments, UK companies and organisations if it is prepared by a recognised authority (such as the UK Deed Poll Service) or a solicitor.
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