Can I legally change my full name?

Kayce

Hi everyone,

I want to change my full name (first and surname) because I never liked it and I always have issues with it, because noone can pronounce it, spelling it out over the phone is a nightmare each time, etc. I am a citizen of a EU member state and am allowed to change my name in my home country as your name is considered your personal right.

However, I will soon be able to apply for irish citizenship, so I am considering waiting for this and then changing my name, to make renewing documents, etc. easier. But I can't find a lot of info about this on the web. I found on citizensinformation, that you can change your name via a deed poll.
But that's pretty much all I could find, and Im not sure if this only applies to people who want to change their name after marriage or change the name of their child.

Does anyone have experience with this or know where to look for further information?

Many thanks

exaisle

A deed poll enables you to change it to Boardy McBoardface if you like....effectively it's a contract with yourself...

Have a read of this:

http://www.courts.ie/Courts.ie/Library3.nsf/pagecurrent/075D7770C94358068025804B005C294B?opendocument&l=en

Kayce

Thanks a lot!
I just wanted to make sure, as I know of cases (other countries) where changing your name is not only very difficult but also incredibly expensive..

Cheers

Victor

Kayce wrote: »

However, I will soon be able to apply for irish citizenship, so I am considering waiting for this and then changing my name, to make renewing documents, etc. easier.

I would check with a solicitor as to the best sequence to do this.

seamus

Victor wrote: »

I would check with a solicitor as to the best sequence to do this.

Indeed, there could be confusion and problems verifying your identity & residency if you change your name before applying for citizenship.

It may be a smoother ride to get citizenship first and then change your name.