Legally Changing Surname

Jim Stark

Hi,

Can any legal savvy people inform me as to the process for legally changing your surname?? I want to adopt my maternal family name; my mothers maiden name instead of my paternal one.

Some people say you don't need to do anything and can just start using it, while others say you need to do something with a deed poll. Others have said also that becuase it's my maternal family name, that I don't need to do anything. I'm living in the UK at the moment if that changes anything?

I'm thinking about how I will be graduating this year also and would like to make the change before I'm issued my degree. If anyone who has done this before could shine a light on any implications of this that I've not thought about that would be helpful. Thanks

plodder

Changing your name by deed poll

Hunchback

You can also, if you do not get your name changed in time, contact the coferring department in the college, and once you have proof that you have legally changed your name (if that is the route you decide to go) then you can get the parchment reissued with the new name on it

Peregrinus

Legally, you don't need a deed poll. Your name is a matter of usage, not law. If people call you Joe, then that's your name. That's what the word "name" means.

But, in practice, it's much easier to get people to call you by a new name if you can flourish a bit of official-looking paperwork. And that's where the deed poll comes in handy. Making a deed poll, and having copies to show people, makes it much easier to get them to call you by your new name.

The fact that this is a name used by some of your relatives make no difference.

Cpt Sh!t Craic

Peregrinus wrote:

Legally, you don't need a deed poll. Your name is a matter of usage, not law. If people call you Joe, then that's your name. That's what the word "name" means.

I've previously given thought to changing my name to the As Gaeilge version. I see what you saying here but when it comes to getting my passport or driving licence renewed will they require a deed poll?

Also, the link that plodder provided has a link to a public list of name changes for October... there's a lad changing his name from James Foley to Barcelona Cruz... wtf

Peregrinus

Cpt Sh!t Craic wrote: »

I've previously given thought to changing my name to the As Gaeilge version. I see what you saying here but when it comes to getting my passport or driving licence renewed will they require a deed poll?

Don't know. They shouldn't, but I don't know what their practice is.

Cpt Sh!t Craic wrote: »

Also, the link that plodder provided has a link to a public list of name changes for October... there's a lad changing his name from James Foley to Barcelona Cruz... wtf

If you're sufficiently desparate to get laid, you'll try anything.

Jim Stark

Barcelona Cruz... that's me! Thanks for the help guys! -Barcelona

loljk

Really though I will try the deed poll, seems straightforward, thanks, except where do I find a commissioner of oaths?? Or would I have to hire a solicitor just to look at someone sign a piece of paper? Would I be able to do all this from the UK?

Beano

Jim Stark wrote: »

Barcelona Cruz... that's me! Thanks for the help guys! -Barcelona

loljk

Really though I will try the deed poll, seems straightforward, thanks, except where do I find a commissioner of oaths?? Or would I have to hire a solicitor just to look at someone sign a piece of paper? Would I be able to do all this from the UK?

if you are in the UK why would you be doing an irish deed poll? why not do an english one instead?

Peregrinus

Beano wrote: »

if you are in the UK why would you be doing an irish deed poll? why not do an english one instead?

He's currently in the UK, but possibly not permanently there. If he has, e.g., an Irish passport, an Irish driver's licence and other key official identity documents issued in Ireland, and he wants to get the Irish authorities to reissue them in his new name, then an Irish deed poll is definitely the way to go. True, he wants to get his UK university to confer his degree in his new name, but as he is an Irish student they will likely accept an Irish deed poll. And they certainly will, if backed up with an Irish passport, driver's licence, etc, in the new name.

feargale

I don't understand why so many people have archaic surnames e.g. Fletcher, meaning an arrow maker. How many arrow makers are in business in your town? Shouldn't some people take modern surnames e.g. Astronaut, or Computeranalyst or Sanitaryexecutive i.e. toilet cleaner?

Beano

Peregrinus wrote: »

He's currently in the UK, but possibly not permanently there. If he has, e.g., an Irish passport, an Irish driver's licence and other key official identity documents issued in Ireland, and he wants to get the Irish authorities to reissue them in his new name, then an Irish deed poll is definitely the way to go. True, he wants to get his UK university to confer his degree in his new name, but as he is an Irish student they will likely accept an Irish deed poll. And they certainly will, if backed up with an Irish passport, driver's licence, etc, in the new name.

but surely it would be more convenient for him to get a uk deed poll while he is there?

Cpt Sh!t Craic

Beano wrote:

but surely it would be more convenient for him to get a uk deed poll while he is there?

The guy is Irish in college in the UK, he's not from the UK....

Peregrinus

Beano wrote: »

but surely it would be more convenient for him to get a uk deed poll while he is there?

It would be more convenient, but less useful.

As a rough rule, for personal matters like your name, your will, etc, the relevant legal jurisdiction is not the one in which you happen to be when some legal question occurs to you, but the one in which you have your roots, and in which you are settled - your domicile. The OP is in college in the UK now, but if Ireland is "home" - and why else would be be posting on boards.ie - and he expects in due court to return there, probably most of the nuts-and-bolts of his name-changing - passport, driver's licence, financial accounts - will be in Ireland and, at least for government agencies, an Irish deed poll is going to smooth the way more effectively.

Beano

Peregrinus wrote: »

It would be more convenient, but less useful.

As a rough rule, for personal matters like your name, your will, etc, the relevant legal jurisdiction is not the one in which you happen to be when some legal question occurs to you, but the one in which you have your roots, and in which you are settled - your domicile. The OP is in college in the UK now, but if Ireland is "home" - and why else would be be posting on boards.ie - and he expects in due court to return there, probably most of the nuts-and-bolts of his name-changing - passport, driver's licence, financial accounts - will be in Ireland and, at least for government agencies, an Irish deed poll is going to smooth the way more effectively.

I assumed that a UK deed poll would be recognised here. Obviously i assumed incorrectly.

Mr. Incognito

There is no law in Ireland regarding change of name.

Nothing at all.

If you want to call yourself Bosco McGee you simply fill that in on official forms and off you go.

Graces7

In Scotland you can do this by declaration. I did so and it is accepted wherever I go now

Jim Stark

Yes I'm Irish national, studying in the UK. I want to make it official and update my passports etc, and have the right name on my degree. How would you find a witness and a solicitor or commissioner of oaths though in the UK to sign an affidavit?? That's what you need to do according to the deed poll.

Peregrinus

The quick and dirty - if not cheapest - solution in your situation may be to do a deed poll in England and in Ireland. Do one in England and produce it to the college authorities to get them to issue your degree in your preferred name. Then, when you are back in Ireland, do one in Ireland and use it to get a new passport, driver's licence, etc.