Changing names: Possibilities, Laws and Funny Stuff

[zadik]

So, do you want to keep your name or not. …. We both have resolved this question a while ago and have agreed on a solution. We are going to have double-barred names. In translation that would come out as “Blessed Smith” (yes, the blessed bit comes from my name). I think the other way around it sounds nicer phonetically, but my Beloved likes this

Comments

[altglas]

what a palaver...
I don't know, I suppose I'm not that attached to my surname. I'm just going to take the guy's if I get married, unless he particularly likes my surname, and be done with it.

[zadik]

Right.
But what if the name of your spouse is incredibly common plus the Germans (and that includes me) can't even pronounce it properly? Whe are talking here about this whole "th" issue. And I personally like my name. That's why we choose the double-barred name both.

And I have the slight suspicion that we only have to go through the statuary bit if I want to have my title (von ...) in the name. It doesn't stand in my birth certificate (because of Stalin, Hitler, etc.) Neither does the German Birth certificate include my Russian Father's name - but my Russian Birth certificate includes it.
I will see what the person from the German Registry says. We'll probably opt for the easy way.

[pds_lit]

I didn't even bother changing my name when I married Dearest although the hyphenated version would be interesting. :)

[zadik]

I was thinking that (to just keep the names) but then it's easier when dealing with officials. Especially since I'm doing most of the paperwork and every time I have to say my name in the UK they can't pronounce or spell it (even tough it's just 5 letters and very simple) or I have to explain why I'm calling on the behalf of my Beloved, etc. etc. Simply tiring. After changing the name I would probably just use the Scottish name when talking to British administrations. He would probably do something similar here.
And regarding kids: I think it's fair that they have names which both their parents have. I guess it's also more obvious for family reasons .... And we have to do this now or we can't later on when we actually will have children.

[pds_lit]

Since we are old crumblies we did not have to think about the kid thing, but that aspect of it is important.

[zadik]

:O You are not old! :)
At least not in mind, whatever you might think about your biological clock. ;)

Changing name

[chloe666666]

I changed my children's names with www.thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk they have an instruction video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK2mY2TaUOQ. They were really helpful and now my children don't have a name they dont want.

Re: Changing name

[zadik]

Yes, I had a look at the video (I posted a link to their website above). That was the one with the "British Battleaxe", wasn't it? Isn't she the wife of some MP? :)
Did you change the surnames of your children? Or were they allowed to change their given names?
The problem for us is: deed polls are not valid in Scotland (only Wales and England) - or they don't do them or something. It is far easier to change a name up there.
But for the German authorities I might have to do this statuary declaration. We will see ....