It is also becoming increasingly
popular for couples to take each other's surname after
marriage. For example, if Seema Kotecha marries Nimesh
Lakhani, they may wish to be known as Lakhani-Kotecha or
Kotecha-Lakhani. Admittedly, this is rather a new
concept with Asians but certainly an increasingly
popular one!
If you decide upon this option and you both wish to
have all your records and documents changed, you should
both arrange to have your names changed by Deed Poll
after your marriage. This will ensure that there are no
delays or problems in getting all of your documents and
records changed.
To save on the additional expense of a combined Deed
Poll, your future husband should change his name to the
hyphenated name before you get married. Consequently,
you will then automatically take his new hyphenated
surname upon marriage. You should change your names in
this way if you wish to get your passports changed in
advance of your marriage, enabling you to travel on your
overseas honeymoon using your new hyphenated name.
Ideally, your future husband should change his name by
Deed Poll at least two months before your marriage so
that enough time is allowed for the issue of your new
passports.
USING YOUR MAIDEN
NAME AS A MIDDLE NAME
If you propose taking your
husband's surname upon marriage but still wish to have
your maiden name incorporated in your new name, the
ideal option is to adopt your maiden name as a middle
name. This option is also becoming increasingly
widespread and overcomes any feelings of pretentiousness
or inappropriateness that you may have about using a
double barrel name.
Again, if you wish to have all your records and
documents changed, you need to change you name by Deed
Poll after your marriage, as mentioned above.
CHANGING
YOUR NAME IN YOUR PASSPORTS
Changing your passport to show your new name is worthy
of a special mention since it is the one document a
woman can get changed before getting married. This is to
allow you to travel on your overseas honeymoon using
your new name. However, your new passport will not be
valid until the date of your marriage
There are lots of companies and
parts of your life that you need to consider as you
change your name, most of which will need to be notified
in writing. Write a standard letter informing people of
your name change and attach a photocopy of your marriage
certificate to each. Government departments, Banks and
Building Societies will need to see the original
document to make the changes but most other
establishments will simply need a photocopy.
