Do we have do change names when entering a civil partnership?
In short, no. Although there is currently no legal requirement for either party to change their surname upon entering a Civil Partnership, many couples wish to share the same name. Changes are permissible following registration of the Partnership in the same way as for Civil Marriages.
Should either or both partners decide to have a double-barrelled surname, a Deed Poll is usually required.
For government departments, such as the DVLA for a new driving licence or the Passport Office, simply presenting some form of admissible identification and your certificate of Civil Partnership will suffice.
Some other organisations such as financial institutions and utility companies still require you to have changed your name by Deed Poll, in the same way as they would for a married couple who have double-barrelled their surnames.
If you wish to sign your Deed Poll documents immediately following registration, you should apply for your Deed Polls at least three weeks beforehand. Otherwise, you can apply at any time following your ceremony. When your Deed Polls arrive, you can start the process of letting everybody know of your change of name.
The cost of a second Deed Poll can be avoided if one partner changes their surname to the double-barrelled surname well in advance of the ceremony, so that the new name will appear on the Civil Partnership certificate for one partner, thus enabling the other to use the certificate to change their surname without the Deed Poll.
New surnames and meshing
Some couples opt for a completely new surname or a combination of each of their current surnames, known as ‘meshing’ and often make their current surname a middle name to maintain a link to their family name.
If you are considering a name change, contact one of our specialist family lawyers today for sympathetic and specialist family law advice
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