Changing names

[Yorkie580]

If someone gets married in a C of E Church and wants to atke the surname of their husband/wife, how do they go about it?

Does it get automatically done or doies it need to go through a solicitor before bank details, passport details, mortgage details etc get changed?

[SaxyJag]

You just sign the marriage certificate, although you should let the minister know what you intend to call yourselves after the ceremony. It's always assumed the wife will take the husband's name, but it doesn't have to be that way. Either way, there's nothing else you need to do.

For mortage and bank details, you just call them and let them know of the change of name. If you have an existing passport, then you need to apply to the passport office for a replacement stating the change of name. For both of these, they'll probably want to see your birth and marriage certificates (or certified copies of).

If you're getting a new passport, and you want it in your married name for honeymoon travel, then you can apply to have it issued in your married name, although of course, it won't be useable until you're married.

[Yorkie580]

cheers - you've put my mind at rest. I had visions of mountains of forms.