Changing child's surname

[djones123]

Hi, What are the legal requirements for changing child's surname? I have been to following site and looks like their requirements are a alot more than just deed poll certificate.

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/change-a-...

Can parents just right a letter and sign saying we have changed our son's surname? Would this be sufficient ? and is it acceptable by passport office ?

[eybic]

My step daughter changed her surname by deed poll and had no issues with passport/ driving licence. Are both parents present? If not then parental responsibility comes into it which is a whole different ball game.

[djones123]

eybic said:

My step daughter changed her surname by deed poll and had no issues with passport/ driving licence. Are both parents present? If not then parental responsibility comes into it which is a whole different ball game.

Thanks. Yes both parents are present and live together.

[eybic]

There should be no issues then, it only gets difficult if you have to ask permission from an absent parent. Get loads of copies of certs as you'll need them for banks, school etc

[djones123]

Do i need to contact solicotor or it is something can be done on my own ?

[eybic]

It's surprisingly easy and "unofficial" seeming. There are a few companies that can do it for you, no solicitor needed.

[caziques]

Back in the fifties, the lady (!) who became my step grandmother and the gentleman (!) by whom she had had a child with when he was married to someone else - appear to have stolen the identity of a Australian Air Force pilot who flew Lancasters in the war.

We have recently found the poor child had the birth registers altered (entries in 1965 refer to 1946), to show three different surnames - O'Donovan, Ward-Smith and Harland.

Perhaps someone can start a thread about ancestry, some bizarre things happened in the days before data bases.

[eybic]

The thing that surprised me is that it seems that there's no "official" records of name changes, the entities that ask if you've been known by any other names (Banks, credit applications etc. etc.) rely on you telling them so in theory once you've got your docs (driving licence and passport etc.) you can effectively leave your old identity behind and start your new one .

[Pjhuk33]

We did this a few years ago.

Straight forward process at the solicitor's.

Was about £60 if my memory serves me correctly...

[s2sol]

My son wanted to change his name so he would have the same surname as his mother, stepfather and half brother. His mother used a solicitor, who wrote asking my permission. I don't think they necessarily needed my permission, but I was happy for the little fella to share the same name as everyone else in his home.

It's a pain in the arse going on holiday though. We get some odd questions at customs about why the boy doesn't have the same surname as me and his stepmother. Also out of school activities - clubs, scouts etc.