Legal Name Change in Scotland

Any person whose birth is registered in Scotland or who is registered in Scotland in the Register of Adopted Children, the Register of Parental Certificates or the Gender Recognition Register may apply for a registered name change. If the person is under the age of 16, the application must be made by a qualified applicant, defined as follows: – You do not have to follow any legal procedure to use a new name. However, you may need a “certificate investigation” to request or change official documents such as your passport or driver`s license. The change of name of a child (under 16 years of age) can only be made by a person who has parental responsibility over the child. If more than one person has parental responsibility over the child, either all of them must accept the change of name or, in case of disagreement, an application to the court for permission to change the child`s name is necessary. It costs £55 to register a name change in the birth register, including your new birth certificate, and then £10 for additional certificates, although there is a reduced rate for registration fees if multiple family members apply together. Each birth certificate issued after the registration of the name change shows the new first and last name, and the original first and last name are displayed separately. There are some documents where you are not required by law to change your name, but still wish to do so. This includes your birth certificate, marriage certificate and divorce decree. You can also update your name on these documents if you want a consistent name for all your official documents.

Your new name does not need to be associated with any of your family members or any of your previous last names. You can also officially change your name in Scotland with an affidavit. If you are allowed to change your name by registering a name change with the Registrar General, it is easier to use this process. An affidavit may be drawn up and attested by a notary or justice of the peace. For more information on what an affidavit is, contact a citizens` office – where you can get advice. You will need to update many other organizations with your new name. This includes your doctor, dentist and other health professionals you see regularly. You should also inform your insurance company and organisations such as DVLA, HMRC and DWP. This will ensure that you will not be confused with your identity and that the police will not harass you. It`s easy to get overwhelmed by the process, not only because of all the legal procedures, but also because there are so many things to consider: how will your family react? What about your friends? How will you explain why you are making this change? But don`t worry; We`re here to help. We discussed important tips to make this process as smooth as possible. So let`s dive into the heart of the matter.

Both parents have parental responsibility and must give their consent if the parents are married to each other. If the parents are not married to each other, parental responsibility usually rests with the child`s mother. If the father is not married to the child`s mother, he may change the child`s name only if he has parental responsibility and the mother agrees to the change of name. There are restrictions on how often you can change your name and register it with the general registrar. It is also possible to change the names of children, but the consent of all those who have parental rights and duties (who are usually both parents) is required. If this is not agreed, an application may be made to the court for an order called a “specific issuance order”. If a compromise is necessary, the court usually prefers to give the child a double surname with the hyphenated surnames of both parents. The court may also make an order ordering the child`s parents to use the new surname in all circumstances to ensure that the child is not confused and that future litigation does not arise.

Learn how to update the name (and gender) on your passport: www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-a-passport-information-for-transgender-and-transsexual-customers If you were born or adopted in Scotland, you can register a change of name with the Registrar General. If you live in Scotland but were born or adopted in another country, you should know how to register a name change in that country. Trans people often change their name permanently on their official documents once they reach the stage of their transition where they live full-time as the gender that matches their gender identity. There are some restrictions on the changes you can make: If you get married or register a registered partnership, you can use any name, including your spouse or civil partner, as long as no fraud is intentional. Although not necessary, it is advisable to formally report the name change to the Registrar General (see below). When it comes to a change of name in Scotland, it can only be made by a person with parental responsibility for the child. Usually, parents are those who have the right to change a child`s name, but it can be anyone else who has parental responsibility, such as adoptive parents, foster parents or family members. Reissued birth certificates show both the new name and the previous name. But only new names are displayed when a child`s name is changed if they are less than one year old.

YOU have decided to change your name and are ready to live a life with your new name.