Royal Borough Registrar Ceremonies Guide - Flipbook - Page 28
Can I change the name in my passport to my new
married name before my wedding/honeymoon?
I want to change my name after marriage – how
does that work?
You can apply for a passport in your partner’s surname from
3 months ahead of the ceremony, as long as you have already
given notice. The new passport will be dated from the date
of the ceremony and will be rescinded if the marriage of civil
partnership does not take place. The form can be found on
the government website.
Your marriage or civil partnership will be contracted using
your current legal names and these are then shown on your
marriage/civil partnership certificate.
If you are marrying here with us at the Royal Borough, we
are happy to complete this for you, but would ask that you
send the completed form with your sections completed, and
a stamped addressed envelope for us to return it to you. We
will do this as soon as we receive it.
Why are my parents’ details included on the
marriage documents and certificates?
There is no requirement for either party to change their names
afterwards or make an immediate decision - this is a personal
decision for you both.
Your certificate is the evidence of your entitlement to use
either name, or to double-barrel your names. There is no
specific moment when the name changes, so you can do this
in your own time e.g. when your passport expires. If you
are changing to an option that is not one of your surnames,
you would need to do this by deed poll.
Parents appear in the online register and the certificates for
ancestry reasons.
The law changed in 2021 to modernise the registration process.
Previously only fathers could appear in the register. That
has been changed to include mothers, step-parents (if they
are or have been married to the birth/adoptive parent), and
same-sex parents. Deceased parents can of course also be
included. If you choose not to have a parent included for
your own reasons, we will totally respect that.
Hannah McClune Photography
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