Changing Your Surname After Civil Partnership

Changing your name after forming a civil partnership is much the same as changing your surname after marriage and therefore the procedures for doing so are very similar.

As with marriage there is no legal requirement for either person to change their name after forming a civil partnership however it is often the case that the couple will decide to share the same surname.

There are a number of options available to a couple that have recently formed a civil partnership:

  • The couple could leave their names exact as they are.
  • One person could take the other partners surname and drop their current one completely.
  • One person could take the other partners surname and make their current one into a middle name.
  • The couple could double-barrel their two surnames (e.g. WAKEFIELD-SMITH).
  • The couple could “create” a new surname out of their two current ones.

Leave your names exactly as they are

There is no legal requirement for either person to change their name after forming a civil partnership and some couples decide to just keep using their current names. If you opt for this choice, you do not need to follow any procedure because your legal name is not changing.

One person takes the others surname and drops their current one

If you wish to take your partners surname after forming a civil partnership, you do not need to apply for a Deed Poll because your civil partnership certificate provides the documentary evidence needed to have your documents and records amended to show your partners surname. You must send a copy of your civil partnership certificate to everyone that holds your personal records along with a letter explaining that you have decided to take your partners surname. Authorities that issue identification documents such as the Identity and Passport Service and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will require sight of your original civil partnership certificate so it is advisable that you purchase extra certificates from the registrar conducting your ceremony.

One person takes the others surname and makes their current one into a middle name

If you wish to take your partners surname after forming a civil partnership but would like to maintain a connection with your birth name, you should consider making your current surname into a middle name. For example, if your name is currently Michael Henry SMITH and you are forming a civil partnership with John Stephen WAKEFIELD, you could change your name to Michael Henry Smith WAKEFIELD (surname denoted by capital letters). If you want to change your name in this way, you will need to apply for a Deed Poll.

Double-barrel both surnames

Some couples prefer to use both surnames after forming a civil partnership in the form of a double-barrelled surname. For example, if John Stephen WAKEFIELD and Michael Henry SMITH double-barrelled their surnames, they would become John Stephen WAKEFIELD-SMITH and Michael Henry WAKEFIELD-SMITH. Please note, it is entirely the couple’s choice as to which order the surnames go in. Most will decide the order by which sounds better when the double-barrelled surname is read aloud. If you wish to double-barrel your surnames, a Deed Poll will most probably be required. Although some organisations will amend their records to show your new double-barrelled surname upon presentation of your civil partnership certificate, many will refuse to. If you want to guarantee that your new surname will be accepted by all government departments, companies and organisations within the United Kingdom, it is advisable that you apply for a Deed Poll.

Create a new surname out of your current ones

You may want to consider merging both of your surnames to make a new surname for use after you have formed your civil partnership. For example, Michael Henry SMITH and John Stephen WAKEFIELD could merge their names together to make the surname SMITHFIELD. In order to change your name like this, you will need a Deed Poll.

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