name change after marriage

hmm · Post by **hmm** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:18 pm

Happy New year Everyone.

Is it compulsary to take husband's surname after marriage? From where I come from women normally use husband's first name as their surname after marriage. I know in most countries(inc UK), women take husband's surname. I don't like the idea of having same name as my mother in law, we both live in same address, it'd confuse the letters(both will address to Mrs XX.) for start.
anyway, what's the law in UK?
what if I keep my old surname(YY)? Can I still call my self Miss YY? or Mrs YY?? I guess I can't!!!! so what'd be the title?
am so confused.

Post by **John** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:30 pm

Is it compulsory to take husband's surname after marriage?

In the UK? No, not at all .... it is merely a convention that most choose to follow. You can call yourself what you like ... assuming you are not doing so to commit a criminal act. Your choice ... Miss ... Ms .... Mrs ... you choose.

Of course in certain cultures the woman might change her surname ... but not to her husband's surname. For example, Mr Singh married to Mrs Kaur.

mhunjn · Post by **mhunjn** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:50 pm

Precisely as John mentioned...

[...though in this particular example; Singh and Kaur are not surnames. These are merely middle names and normally supposed to be linked to religion (Sikh in this case)...]

John wrote:
Is it compulsory to take husband's surname after marriage?
In the UK? No, not at all .... it is merely a convention that most choose to follow. You can call yourself what you like ... assuming you are not doing so to commit a criminal act. Your choice ... Miss ... Ms .... Mrs ... you choose.

Of course in certain cultures the woman might change her surname ... but not to her husband's surname. For example, Mr Singh married to Mrs Kaur.

Post by **John** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:58 pm

[...though in this particular example; Singh and Kaur are not surnames. These are merely middle names and normally supposed to be linked to religion (Sikh in this case)...]

I bow to your superior knowledge ... but a look at any phonebook will show lots of instances of those names being used, it seems, as surnames.

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:43 pm

In the UK, the principle is that after being married, it is up a wife to decide whether or not she wishes to change her surname to that of her husband. Although this is traditionally the case, it is not a legal requirement.

A wife can do several things - she may continue using her maiden name, she can adopt the husband's surname or she can change her name by deed to something entirely different. However, if it is decided to have a double-barrelled surname then a change of name deed will be required.

There is nothing in law to prevent a wife from using both her maiden name and her married name for different purposes (for example, she might want to use her maiden name as a professional name, and be known in private by her married name - or here in the UK she is officially known by her married name and in her 'home' country (for the sake of ease for example) she is known in her maiden name) - there is absolutely nothing wrong in doing so in British law.

If a wife decides to take her husband's surname, then her marriage certificate will automatically provide the necessary documentary evidence of her change of name (there is no need for a formal change of name deed). The wife's 'home' passport will be evidence of her maiden name. As long as there is no ulterior or sinister reason for changing a name then one can be called by any name one wishes - so long as it is pronounceable!

Conversely on divorce, a wife can either keep her husband's name or revert back to her maiden name - the Decree Absolute being the only document required as evidence of the change of name - again there is no need for a formal change of name deed.

As for children who were born outside the marriage - then a change of name deed will be required for them to assume the husband's surname. In marriage - the parents should decide on which surname the child should be known by before registering the birth

hmm · Post by **hmm** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:17 am

Thanks all for your replys. I'd like to keep my old surname(maiden name) but can I call my self MISS XX. I thought MISS is the title for unmarried women only.
what about banks,work, etc.....no need to make change in my name?? do i need to tell them that I am maried but still call my self MISS xx. no need to inform anyone?
one more question. I sponcered my husband after our wedding, means that he needs to apply for ILR after 2years...would Home Office doubt about our marriage if I did not take his name. we are not going to have joint bank accounts, mortgage, etc. our financial aspects will not be joint but we have joint gas,electricity and council tax bills. would that be enough ???

rely · Post by **rely** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:26 am

John wrote:
[...though in this particular example; Singh and Kaur are not surnames. These are merely middle names and normally supposed to be linked to religion (Sikh in this case)...]
I bow to your superior knowledge ... but a look at any phonebook will show lots of instances of those names being used, it seems, as surnames.

Few countries like Canada will not accept "singh" or "Kaur" as surname .Check out for UK.They will ask you to get surname included in your passport.You cant even say that you do not have surnames.They say very clearly it is your look out.
If you do not have surname then they will not issue visas.
rely

Post by **John** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:32 am

Hmm, basically you can call yourself what you like! If you want to still be know as Miss then that is what you will be know as.

Many people, especially those in the public eye, do not change their name. You will probably recollect that Mo Mowlem ... ex-cabinet minister and MP ... died. It became clear that whilst married, the name of Mowlem was her maiden name which she retained on her marriage. That did not make her any less married to her husband.

And now the same for you and your husband! I don't expect the different surnames to cause any problem when the ILR is applied for. The marriage certificate will prove the two of you are married to each other.

Post by **John** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:37 am

Few countries like Canada will not accept "singh" or "Kaur" as surname .Check out for UK.

Sorry to cause a problem! The words Singh and Kaur were my example and nothing to do with the OP!

But here in the UK no problem at all if people choose to have Singh or Kaur as their surname .... that is their choice. The local telephone directory for this area has over one page of Singhs and 1.5 columns of Kaurs. All those people seem to have chosen to use those words as their surname.

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:50 pm

hmm wrote:... but can I call my self MISS XX. I thought MISS is the title for unmarried women only.

That is certainly not a problem in the UK. Even the Prime Minister's wife uses her maiden name - in private she is Mrs Blair, as a barrister Mrs Blair is known as Miss Cherie Booth QC - as a Judge, she is known as Her Honour Recorder Cherie Booth QC.

So relax, even Judges do it!

harmantimes · Post by **harmantimes** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 3:55 pm

John wrote:
[...though in this particular example; Singh and Kaur are not surnames. These are merely middle names and normally supposed to be linked to religion (Sikh in this case)...]

I bow to your superior knowledge ... but a look at any phonebook will show lots of instances of those names being used, it seems, as surnames.

rely wrote:
John wrote:
[...though in this particular example; Singh and Kaur are not surnames. These are merely middle names and normally supposed to be linked to religion (Sikh in this case)...]
I bow to your superior knowledge ... but a look at any phonebook will show lots of instances of those names being used, it seems, as surnames.

Few countries like Canada will not accept "singh" or "Kaur" as surname .Check out for UK.They will ask you to get surname included in your passport.You cant even say that you do not have surnames.They say very clearly it is your look out.

If you do not have surname then they will not issue visas.

rely

Thanks John/mhunjn/tobias for inputs:

Singh and Kaur are surnames but people also started using as middle name. Check this link for details : http://www.ukdp.co.uk/name-change-relig ... n/#Sikhism

You guys have good knowledge on Singh/Kaur - impressed. I am having surname as Singh and my daughter as Kaur. I moved to UK few years ago. Although I did not face any issue due to these surnames but always have same query similar to this post. Thanks all for posting here. I am now bit comfortable

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