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About
Deed Polls
What is a Deed
Poll?
Why
is it called a Deed Poll?
What
is the purpose of a Deed Poll?
Who can apply?
Can
I change my children's names?
Are
there any restrictions on names?
Is
a Deed Poll registered anywhere?
Can
a birth certificate be changed?
Why
do people change their name?
Answers to other
FAQs
Applying
for a Deed Poll
Change
your name online now
Example
letters of consent
General
name change information
Introduction
A
woman's rights upon marriage
A
man's rights upon marriage
A woman's rights upon divorce
A
woman's rights upon being widowed
Your
rights upon adoption
Who to advise
after changing your name
UK
Deed Poll Service
Contact us
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions
and your rights
General
name change information
A woman's rights upon divorce
Upon divorce, a woman can usually revert to her maiden name without the need for a Deed Poll because her decree absolute certificate and marriage certificate (which shows her maiden name) are usually accepted as documentary evidence of the change of name. Upon presentation of these certificates most government departments, companies and organisations etc will change their records to show the woman's maiden name.
Please note, your marriage certificate may not need to be produced to government departments, companies and organisations that knew you before you were married - because they should still have your maiden name on file.
If a decree absolute and marriage certificate are not accepted as documentary evidence, then a Deed Poll will be required since a Deed Poll will be accepted by everyone without question as documentary evidence of a change of name. Some banks and building societies, for example, insist on a deed poll if a woman wishes to revert to her maiden name.
When applying for a deed poll, a woman can also take the opportunity to make changes to her forename(s) if she wishes e.g. change, add or remove her first and/or middle names.
If a separated or divorced woman also wishes to change her children's surname to her new surname, this can also be done by Deed Poll. However, the written consent of everyone with parental responsibility is required (please read our page Can I change my children's names? for further information about parental responsibility and consent requirements).
Last updated: 10 March 2003
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