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Your Options for Changing Your Name After Marriage – Legal Rights & Personal Choices for UK Couples
While tradition often sees women taking their husband’s surname, modern choices allow for flexibility. Men can also choose to change their surname or combine it with their spouse’s. Whether you plan to adopt a new surname, create a double-barrelled version, or keep your original name, understanding the legal aspects of changing your name after marriage ensures a smoother process.
Some changes can be made using your marriage certificate alone, while others require a Deed Poll for full legal recognition. It’s important to understand how each choice may affect your career, identity, and relationships.
With the right information, changing your name after marriage can be done confidently. Below are the most common legal options available.
Update your official records using your marriage certificate.
Combine surnames with or without a hyphen (may need a Deed Poll).
No legal steps needed; you can continue using your maiden name as usual.
While men traditionally keep their surname after marriage, they have the same legal right to change it. Whether adopting a spouse’s surname, double-barrelling, or choosing a new name altogether, a Deed Poll is often needed for official recognition. Knowing the correct legal steps makes changing your name after marriage as smooth as possible when updating records like passports and bank accounts.
Once you’ve decided on changing your name after marriage, it’s essential to update all your official documents. This ensures your new name is legally and consistently recognised across personal, financial, and travel records.
Failing to do so could cause issues with identification, banking, or travel.
Key Documents to Update:
Apply for a name change through HM Passport Office and the DVLA to avoid travel disruptions.
Notify your bank, building society, and credit card providers to update your records and prevent issues with transactions.
Inform HMRC to ensure tax records, National Insurance contributions, and state pension details remain accurate.
Update your name with the NHS, GP, dentist, and employer to maintain consistency in medical and payroll systems.
Change your name on council tax, utility bills, insurance policies, and any subscriptions to prevent discrepancies.
Some organisations may accept your decree absolute as proof of name change, while others will require a Deed Poll for verification.
Some people choose to take the title “Mrs” after marriage, while others prefer “Ms” for a neutral option. For those who don’t wish to specify marital status, “Ms” remains a widely accepted title. Increasingly, “Mx” is also being used as a gender-neutral option when changing your name after marriage.
Apply for your Deed Poll today and take the next step in changing your name after marriage. Our secure online service is simple, fast, and fully supported.
UK Deed Poll Service is not a government agency. We are a specialist deed poll agency that has issued over 800,000 unenrolled deed polls since 2001. We do not offer enrolled deed polls as an unenrolled deed poll is quicker, cheaper and confidential. You can make your own unenrolled deed poll yourself should you wish to.
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