Questions about legally changing your name (by deed poll)

MonkeyBalls

How long does it take (weeks? months?) before the process is complete and the new name is officially in use?

Second question is, you need a witness-- so do you have to bring someone with you to the offices in Dublin, and does the person have to be unrelated to you? Or can it be a solicitor or someone in the offices there?

And finally, when I apply to renew my passport, with my deed poll, will there be any hassle or will they renew it straight away under my new surname? I've heard there's some provision where you have to prove you've been using the name for the past 2 years before they'll issue a passport in that name, but maybe that's only if you don't get the deed poll?

Cheers

Fred Swanson

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2 years proof of usage, deed polls are useless when it comes to changing a passport name without the proof.

Fred Swanson

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MonkeyBalls

Reallllyyy? Interesting. Thanks for the input

Fred Swanson

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schemingbohemia

They should include the "old" name under observations ie Formerly known as Mr. Monkey Balls.

Fred Swanson

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Fred Swanson

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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I know but thats just how it works with the passport system.

Fred Swanson

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Fred Swanson

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Unfortunatly it cant, its been challenged before to no success. Its 2 years with or without a deed poll. Its just for security reasons, anybody can get a deed poll.

Cody Pomeray

LittleNipper wrote: »

Unfortunatly it cant, its been challenged before to no success. Its 2 years with or without a deed poll. Its just for security reasons, anybody can get a deed poll.

In the Irish courts?

You wouldn't happen to have a citation for that judgement would you?

Cody Pomeray

Cody Pomeray wrote: »

In the Irish courts?

You wouldn't happen to have a citation for that judgement would you?

No sorry. Im not sure how far it went though.

Fred Swanson

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MonkeyBalls

What would constitute proof of usage? Bills addressed to that name?

Fred Swanson

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MonkeyBalls

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Letters, bills, car insurance, bank statements would do.

One final question: would proof of use have to have started *after* the deed poll, i.e. do you make the change via deed poll and then 2 years later (with insurance, bank statements etc) get the new passport,
Or can you just inform the bank etc, without a deed poll, and then 2 years later send in the documents (to the passport crowd) with a fresh deed poll?

MonkeyBalls

I'll sneak in one more question: is it possible to have your new name *and* your birth certificate name on your passport?

Peregrinus

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Not really. The deed poll doesn't change your name. What your name is is a matter of fact, and what changes your name is the fact of being known as, and called by, your new name. The deed poll is formal evidence that you are called by, and known as, your new name.

But it's not incontrovertible evidence. It's perfectly possible for me to swear and register a deed poll that says "I used to be Peregrinus, but now I am called, and known as, Stupendous". The passport office take the view that, for something like a passport, they want to be really, really satisifed that my name is Stupendous, and they are not prepared simply to take my word for it, however formally declared. So they want other evidence showing that in real life I use, and am known by, the name "Stupendous" - bank cards, electricity accounts, that kind of thing.

MonkeyBalls

That makes sense. So I'm assuming the timing of the deed poll is irrelevant; the main thing is to show that the name has been in use for a number of years, and you don't need a deed poll to have banks, insurance, etc go by your new name

Cody Pomeray

Insurance... hmm, I don't know but you might want to check that one out.

Fred Swanson

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Peregrinus

MonkeyBalls wrote: »

That makes sense. So I'm assuming the timing of the deed poll is irrelevant; the main thing is to show that the name has been in use for a number of years, and you don't need a deed poll to have banks, insurance, etc go by your new name

Banks, etc, may or may not ask for a deed poll. If you're an established customer and you come in and tell them you're changing your name, that's one thing, but if you walk in off the street they have "know your customer" rules that they must abide by, and if you have a bunch of documents in one name but assure them that you've just started going by another and could they open the account in your new name please?, they'll probably be a bit more fussy.