Any adult can change there name if they wish to do so as long as it is not done under duress or to avoid creditors.

If a divorced women wishes to change her name back to her maiden name this can be done by way of a ‘Change of Name’ deed, which we are happy to prepare and execute for you.

If a parent wishes to change their child’s name they must obtain the permission of the other parent, if they share parental responsibility. If only the mother has parental responsibility then consent of the father does not need to be obtained, however, it is good practice to do so.

The issue of what a child is called is a sensitive one and a change may be made by the parent with care for good practical reasons or because it seems to the parent with care that the child’s interests are best served by such a change. A change of name is usually strongly opposed by the other parent particularly if the change involves dropping a name shared with the other parent. If the change of name involves the change relating to the other parents name this is often seen as an attempt to distance the child from the non-resident parent.

If a change of name is made without consent the parent can make an application to the court for a specific issue order for the child’s name to be changed back to that as on the birth certificate and is dealt with in the same way as other applications relating to children. The court is unlikely to permit a change of name as the name is a significant part of the child’s identity, and use of the name on the birth certificate reinforces that sense of identity.