What are a couple’s name options following marriage?

Following marriage a couple may choose to do any of the following, some of which require one or both partners to apply for a change of name by Deed Poll. To read all about Deed Polls see our Deed Poll FAQ's.

• The woman may choose to take her husband's last name in place of her own last name. She does not require a Deed Poll in order to do this.
  
  
• The couple may choose a hyphenated (double-barrelled) last name, joining the wife’s maiden name with the husband’s last name. The husband and wife will each require a Deed Poll if adopting the new hyphenated name after marriage.
  
  The couple can save the cost of one Deed Poll if the husband adopts the new name by Deed Poll in advance of the wedding and his new legal name is shown on the wedding certificate. The wife will then be entitled to use this new name after the wedding without requiring a Deed Poll of her own.
  
  
• One or both partners may choose to adopt the surname of the other partner as a new middle name, thereby clearly demonstrating the link with their partner but maintaining their own surname for use in business etc. A Deed Poll is required for the partner/s changing their name/s in this way.
  
  
• The couple may decide on a name that is completely new to each of them, perhaps combining their last names to create one new name, or choosing something completely unrelated to their existing names. Both partners would need a Deed Poll.
  
  The couple can save the cost of one Deed Poll if the husband adopts the new name by Deed Poll in advance of the wedding and his new legal name is shown on the wedding certificate. The wife will then be entitled to use this new name after the wedding without requiring a Deed Poll of her own.
  
  
  
• The couple may both choose to be known by the woman’s last name. In this case a Deed Poll will only be required by the man.

To apply for your change of name by Deed Poll please click here

Note: If a couple choose to change their names in any way it will be necessary for each of them to notify all the organisations that hold records of them, E.G. the UK Passport service, DVLA, bank, insurance companies, credit card companies plus many others, in order that records can be amended to show the new name. The quick and easy way to do this is to use our New Name Kit.

Please see details of the New Name Kit in 'Our Products'

See also...

• What are a couple’s name options following marriage?
• Do we need a Deed Poll if we want to hyphenate (double-barrell) our last names after we are married?
• What are a couple’s name options following Civil Partnership?
• What are a woman's name options following marriage?

 

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