There is in fact no legal requirement to change your name You can call yourself anything you want You cannot change "things of fact" such as birth certifciates, marraige certifciates etc To change your bank account, driving licence, etc you need to produce some form of documentary proof which can be as simple as a decleration sworn before a Public Notary Please see extract from Wikapeida on this "In the United Kingdom citizens and residents have the freedom to change their names with relative ease. 3. 1. England and Wales In theory anyone who is at least 16 years of age and resident in the United Kingdom can call themselves whatever they wish. However, over the past hundred years or so, formal procedures have evolved which are recognised by all record holders, such as government departments, companies and organisations. These procedures, which require the production of "documentary evidence" of a change of name, enable a citizen legally to change their name on their passport, driving licence, tax and National Insurance records, bank and credit cards, etc. Documents such as birth, marriage and educational certificates cannot be changed because these documents are "matter of fact" which means that they were correct at the time they were issued. Documentary evidence of a change of name can be in a number of forms, such as a marriage certificate, decree absolute, civil partnership certificate, Statutory Declaration or deed of change of name. Deeds of change of name are by far the most commonly used method of providing evidence of a change of name other than changing a woman's surname after marriage. A deed poll is a legal document which binds a single person to a particular course of action (in this case, changing one's name for all purposes). The term 'Deed' is common to signed, written agreements that have been shown to all concerned parties. Strictly speaking, it is not a contract because it binds only one party and expresses an intention instead of a promise. 'Poll' is an old legal term referring to official documents that had cut edges (were polled) so that they were straight." I understand for a Deed Poll procedure there was usally an announcment in either the local paper or in the London Gazette (my mother followed this route) It would be worth a search of the London Gazette which can be done on ine - just Goole "London Gazette" regards Martin However to change ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eunice Cubbage" <eunice@cubbage.plus.com> To: <bucks@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 7:48 AM Subject: [BKM] Surnames on Marriage Certificate >I wonder if I can ask for listers' interpretation of a surname on > a 1967 marriage certificate : > > The groom's name is "Brown", he is a widower, aged 62. > The brides' name is "Mary Brown" formerly known as "Mary Smith". She is > a spinster, aged 51. > > I know that this couple had many children together, the first in 1936 > and the last in 1957. > > Is it likely that the bride changed her name by Deed Poll or another > official route (is there one?), or did she just go by the name of Brown > informally ? > > The marriage took place in a Register Office. > > I would appreciate opinions..... > > Eunice > *************************************** > > BGS Website: http://www.bucksgs.org.uk/ > BFHS Website: http://www.bucksfhs.org.uk/ > Bucks Genuki Website: http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BUCKS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message