keeping maiden name.... title after marriage?

[turquoise]

Sorry if this seems a daft question! I'm getting married in a couple weeks to my british partner. However, I want to keep my maiden name. Let's say I'm now Miss Jones and my O/H is Mr Smith. After marriage, my partner says I then become Mrs Jones. Is this correct? It makes it sound like I've married someone in my family!
I don't know any other women who have kept their maiden names... anyone know?!!

[John]

Under UK law there is no compulsion for a woman to change her surname on marriage. It is merely a convention that most choose to follow ... but absolutely not compulsory.

Miss? Mrs? Ms? Again you are entitled to call yourself what you want.

[Christophe]

You can choose whatever title suits you - Miss, Mrs, Ms. You don't even have to use the same one for everything, although of course it is probably simpler if you do.

By convention, if you keep your unmarried surname, you wouldn't become Mrs Jones; you would remain Miss Jones or Ms Jones, whichever you choose. However, that is a convention only - you could call yourself Mrs Jones if you wanted to, but few women who keep their unmarried surname would choose to do that - apart from anything else, it is potentially confusing, as you suggest. (Traditionally (but not necessarily now), the most common reason for women to keep their unmarried name after marriage was for professional considerations: in those cases, Mrs would not have been used in such circumstances.)

As to your surname, it is again convention that dictates that a woman takes on her husband's surname at marriage. There is no legal requirement to do so.

[turquoise]

Thanks John and Christophe for clearing that up. I will be Ms Jones, then. I was just concerned, as I forgot to mention, I wasn't sure what to fill out on the spouse visa form, whether to tick Miss/Mrs/Ms or how to sign the form. So, okay , now I know they will accept if I tick Ms and sign as Ms Jones. Good thing I didn't listen to my partner! (who is insisting I must be a Mrs after marriage!)

[turquoise]

Thanks John and Christophe for clearing that up. I will be Ms Jones, then. I was just concerned, as I forgot to mention, I wasn't sure what to fill out on the spouse visa form, whether to tick Miss/Mrs/Ms or how to sign the form. So, okay , now I know they will accept if I tick Ms and sign as Ms Jones. Good thing I didn't listen to my partner! (who is insisting I must be a Mrs after marriage!)

[turquoise]

Thanks John and Christophe for clearing that up. I will be Ms Jones, then. I was just concerned, as I forgot to mention, I wasn't sure what to fill out on the spouse visa form, whether to tick Miss/Mrs/Ms or how to sign the form. So, okay , now I know they will accept if I tick Ms and sign as Ms Jones. Good thing I didn't listen to my partner! (who is insisting I must be a Mrs after marriage!)

[turquoise]

Good Lord, I was having trouble with my reply going through and didn't mean to post three times! Apologies!

[avjones]

It's really common for barristers not to change their names after marriage (I really am "Miss Jones" by the way!)

Usually women barristers call themselves "Miss <Maiden name>" at work, and often "Mrs <married name>" outside work. It's entirely up to you.

[Wanderer]

It's really common for barristers not to change their names after marriage (I really am "Miss Jones" by the way!)

Usually women barristers call themselves "Miss <Maiden name>" at work, and often "Mrs <married name>" outside work. It's entirely up to you.

Oooooh, Miss Jones!!

Mr Rigsby

[JAJ]

As to your surname, it is again convention that dictates that a woman takes on her husband's surname at marriage. There is no legal requirement to do so.

Note that in some places, such as Quebec (in Canada) the convention is the exact opposite and women generally do not take their husband's name on marriage.