Changing Your Name

Changing your surname after marriage/civil partnership is a personal choice rather than a legal requirement. If you would like to change your surname following a marriage or civil partnership there will be several organisations that you need to inform. You should contact each organisation to check whether further evidence will be required. 

You can use your marriage or civil partnership certificate to tell organisations you are taking the name of your spouse/civil partner. However, if you wish to change your name to an amalgamation of your names or something completely different, you should use a change of name deed.

East Sussex Registration can provide you with a change of name deed should you need one. Visit the East Sussex County Council website for further details. 

You can apply to change your name on your passport up to 3 months before your ceremony. 

Your passport will be 'post dated' to the date of the ceremony, meaning you will be unable to use it until this date.

To apply for a passport in your new name form PD2 must be completed and signed by you, and the Registrar/Minister of Religion who will be performing the ceremony. An administrative fee of £30 will be charged by Ceremonies in East Sussex for the completion of a PD2 form. Other registration districts/Ministers of Religion fees may differ. 

To have your PD2 form signed by East Sussex Registration contact us on 0345 60 80 198