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Name Changing ... or Not

14 replies

MissWooWoo · 01/03/2012 12:48

I'm a bit confused about the whole name changing thing.

My initial plan was to be known as MrsDH but to keep everything in my maiden name - bank accounts/passport etc just because changing every thing over is such a faff and also because I still want to keep my old name (double barrel wouldn't work as both surnames are too long). Now I'm not sure whether this would work as I'd possibly be giving my name as MrsDH and then producing a bank card/cheque/ID with my maiden name on. aaargggh! I really like the idea of "legally" still being "me" but having DHsurname for everyday use ... booked under the name of Mr and Mrs DHsurname (it's also dd surname) etc.

I can't decide what to do.

Now I am flapping about signing the register at the wedding - do I have to have made a decision by then? do I sign in my maiden name and then my married name or just my married name. I have no idea about what it actually is that I am going to be signing!

Can anyone give any advice or been through similar dilemma?

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CMOTDibbler · 01/03/2012 12:51

You always sign the register in your maiden name, so you don't have to have decided by then

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MissWooWoo · 01/03/2012 13:06

phew! so how does a marriage certificate work as a form of ID if you open a bank account for example in your married name .... am I right in thinking you just declare that his is going to be your name - you don't have to actually do anything legally?

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Tigresswoods · 01/03/2012 13:07

Just change the whole thing to Mrs DH. you will still be you & it's amazing how quick you get used to it.

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MissWooWoo · 01/03/2012 13:12

I don't have a problem with being known as Mrs DH but really it's such an absolute and utter PITA to change all my particulars to a different name.

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Tigresswoods · 01/03/2012 13:18

Once it's done it's done. It'll be more of a PITA having 2 names.

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cheesenpickle · 01/03/2012 13:31

Its not impossible to do it. I kept my maiden name as I couldnt be bothered with changing everything formally but still used my married name when i could. When i was paying or booking things obviously the cards were in my maiden name, sometimes it was an issue, sometimes it wasn't. If you are using cards over the net sometimes you need to have it delivered to the card holders name, but more often its the address that matters and that will be the same. With chip and pin now no one really looks at the name on the card anyway. It can get confusing though as you need to remember what you have booked/ ordered in what name though!. I managed though for 6 years with not that much hassle and changed it when we had ds as i wanted us all to have the same name. I have kept my maiden name for work and even though my wages are paid into my married name bank account it works fine. btw when i did change over everything into my married name it wasn't as much hassle as i thought it would be!

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MissWooWoo · 01/03/2012 13:56

I'm just very very lazy! Maybe I will change things over as and when and maybe I'll see how it goes Smile

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Bue · 01/03/2012 21:27

Just keep everything in your maiden name and use DH's name socially.

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PickleSarnie · 07/03/2012 10:04

I couldn't be bothered changing mine but we got loads of cheques addressed to Mr and Mrs DH. It was an absolute nightmare trying to open a bank account in joint married names without changing my passport first which I thought was ridiculous. Surely my old passport and marriage certificate would be enough?! I'm too tight to change passport until it expires so the only way I could do it was to change my name on my current account and add DH to it. Was really weird seeing Mrs DH on my bank card. Especially since id had that account for 30years or so.

Now I've changed it there it just seems inevitable that I'll change it everywhere else. Cards etc will always come addressed to Mr and Mrs DH regardless it whether you want it or not and I can't be bothered to argue.

Keeping my maiden name at work though.

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EvenBetter · 07/03/2012 10:49

Changing my name was easy, you don't have to do much, though having to pay £80 for the passport grated. I wasn't sure about changing my name, but now although I still haven't got my head around it, I'm very proud to be Mrs _ :D

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Thetokengirl · 07/03/2012 10:58

I tried changing it at home, but keeping my maiden name at work. However, I kept forgetting which name I was using and signing the wrong name in the wrong situation.Blush So, I changed to DHs name at work also. That was 16 years ago and I almost forget what by maiden anme was, but that doesn't bother me.

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MissWooWoo · 08/03/2012 14:39

I don't mind being called Mrs DH and look forward to being addressed so - I just want to still keep my old name as well e.g. I really really don't want to change my email address which is basically just my name. The fact that I am in my early 40s doesn't help.

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5babyangels · 14/03/2012 10:14

You can be 2 names or 3 if you like. Can get a bit confusing but it's allowed. I got married 10 years ago and when got divorced kept my married name as by that point I ran a company and kept it consistent. However getting married again in 5 weeks, so going to be mrs new dh for everything personal and known as my old married name for everything company orientated. Also new dh has an awful name and although i love him to bits and dont mind being teased by friends and family, for work purposes it needs to be the same. Actors do it with stage names. You can have different bank accounts in different names too it's legal. Also if you ever fill in a tax return or other government forms it asks for names you are known by as well as legal name and maiden name.

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Ephiny · 14/03/2012 15:33

I am planning to keep my name, I don't mind if people refer to me as Mrs DH socially (tbh this already happens anyway, and it's quite nice in a way :)). It would seem strange to change completely after having this name for 30 years, and I really don't want the hassle of changing bank accounts and official documentation, or indeed email addresses!

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