May 2012. I would like to thank you for the excellent service you have provided. For many years I have put off changing my name but kept putting it off as I thought it was a long and drawn out process and also very costly. Your service was straight forward, easy to follow instrutions&...
Halima, Hertfordshire, Borehamwood.

2. Name change options that may or will need a Deed Poll

If neither of you decides to take a partner's surname, there are a number of other name change options open to you (that may or will require a Deed Poll).

2.1 Double-barrelling your surnames

A double-barrelled surname uses both surnames and can either be linked by a hyphen or kept separate e.g. Smith-Jones or Smith Jones.

You can place the names in any order, and most couples go for the combination which sounds best when spoken aloud.

Should either or both of you decide to have a double-barrelled surname then a Deed Poll is usually required. Some organisations like government departments and other bodies will accept a civil partnership certificate as documentary evidence of the double-barrelled name change (for both partners).

Others however, and in particular financial institutions, will need to see a Deed Poll. The good thing about a Deed Poll is that it guarantees that your new double-barrelled surname will be accepted by everyone, without question.

The only way to find out if you need a Deed Poll to get your non-government documents and records changed is to contact organisations individually to ask what their policy is on changing your surname to a double-barrelled surname upon civil partnership.

We expect that, in time, companies and organisations that do not currently allow double-barrelling using a civil partnership certificate will review their name change policy and follow the lead taken by the government.

Note: If you do decide to apply for a Deed Poll to double-barrel your surname, it’s important to get the timing right, as follows -

2.1.1 Apply in advance of your ceremony

If you wish to sign your Deed Poll documents immediately following your ceremony, you should apply for your Deed Polls at least three weeks beforehand (to allow for any postal delays).

When you complete your Deed Poll application forms, you will need to write the date of your ceremony in the comments box. We will then formally date your Deed Polls with the date of your ceremony which looks so much better a hand-written date.

After you sign your Deed Polls you will need to keep them safe until you return from your honeymoon so you can start the process of letting everyone know of your change of name by Deed Poll.

2.1.2 Apply after your ceremony

If you don’t wish to sign your Deed Polls immediately following your ceremony, you can apply for your Deed Polls at any time following the ceremony. Then, when the Deed Polls arrive, you can begin the process of letting everyone know of your change of name.

Of course you can still order the Deed Polls before the ceremony, particularly if you want to have the Deed Poll documents to hand for signing on your return from honeymoon.

If you are changing your surname to a double-barrelled surname and Deed Polls are required, you can save on the cost of a second Deed Poll by arranging for one partner to change their surname to the double-barrelled surname before the ceremony.

(Note: this will need to be done well before giving notice to a register office to allow sufficient time to get all documents and records changed to the new double-barrelled surname).

Consequently, the new double-barrelled surname will appear on the civil partnership certificate for one partner thus enabling the other partner to use the certificate to get their own surname changed to the double-barrelled surname without the need for a Deed Poll.

2.2 Making one partner's surname a middle name for both partners

If you’d rather not double-barrel your surnames, but you do want to take your partner’s surname, then you could consider using the other partner’s surname as a middle name. This way the dropped surname isn’t completely abandoned and a link to the dropped family name is preserved.

For example, if John SMITH forms a civil partnership with Alan JONES and John takes Alan's surname, the couple could change their names to John Smith JONES and Alan Smith JONES.

This type of name change can only be done by Deed Poll.

If you decide to make one of your surnames into a middle name for both partners, the same timing considerations apply as in sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 above.

Because your names are changing by Deed Poll, you don’t need to show your civil partnership certificate to anyone, only your Deed Poll document. When you do this, simply inform them of your civil partnership in a covering letter so your marital (civil partner) status can also be updated on your documents and records.

2.3 Choosing a new surname for both partners

Couples who would rather not use a double-barrelled surname or one of the couple's surnames following their civil partnership may decide to create a new surname altogether.

Your new surname can be anything you like. For instance it might be a name you like the sound of – or a combination of a part of each of your current surnames (known as ‘meshing’).

Also, couples who decide on a new surname often make their current surname into a middle name, thereby maintaining a link to their family name.

If you decide to create a new surname or ‘mesh’ your surnames, the same timing considerations apply as in sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 above.

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Sections in this article
Click on the links below to view each section of this article.

1.    Name change options that do not need a Deed Poll
2.    Name change options that may or will need a Deed Poll
3.    Changing your title on entering into a civil partnership

This page was last checked today by Amanda Dawson, Senior Deed Poll Officer.

Civil Partnership - A couple's name change rights and options that may or will need a Deed Poll.