Blog Divorce guide 2026
Changing your name after divorce.
Going back to your old name, or starting fresh with a new one? You don't need to wait for the divorce to finish, and your ex doesn't need to know. Here's what proof to use, who to tell, and the bits that catch people out.
By Anna Akinyosoye, founder of My Name Changed. I've changed my name four times, and one of those was going back to my own name after my marriage was annulled.
Updated November 2026 and checked against GOV.UK. Wherever a rule matters, I link to the official page.
the annoying
one. always.
The short version
- You don't have to change it. You can keep your married name for as long as you like.
- You don't have to wait. Once you've separated, you can change it whenever you're ready. Your ex doesn't need to know, agree or sign anything.
- Use a deed poll. Divorce papers can work, but every organisation wants a different mix of documents. One deed poll covers the lot, and you can make your own for free.
- Get one bill in your new name early. With a deed poll, the DVLA and the passport office also want proof you're already using the name.
- Then work through the list. DVLA, passport, HMRC, your bank and the rest, in whatever order suits you.
New here? I'm Anna, and I run My Name Changed. This guide works whether you do it yourself or not. If you'd rather not, you fill in one short form. I prepare your deed poll and post it to you, put your DVLA pack together, and send your new name to HMRC, your council, GP and more. £45, one-off.
Do you have to change it?
No. It's your name, and all of these are fine.
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Keep your married name
Plenty of people do, often so it matches their kids. Nothing to do, nothing to send.
No proof needed -
Go back to your old name
Your maiden name, or any name you had before.
Deed poll or papers -
Something brand new
A fresh start is allowed. Divorce papers can't prove a name you've never had, so it's a deed poll.
Deed poll -
Decide later
There's no deadline. Change it next week or in five years, whenever it feels right.
Whenever you like
When can you change it?
Whenever you're ready. You don't need anyone's permission.
- Divorce not final yet? Once you've separated, you can change your name with a deed poll. You don't need your final order or decree absolute.
- Marriage annulled, or a civil partnership ended? It works exactly the same way.
- Does your ex need to agree? No. They don't need to know, agree or sign anything.
It's okay if this bit is hard. Some people are popping prosecco, some are heartbroken, and plenty are both. It can be sad even when it's absolutely the right call. If you just need someone to rant to, my DMs are open. I mean it.
What proof do you need?
There are two ways to do it. One of them is a lot less faff.
Using your divorce papers
Only works for a name you've had before, and only once your divorce is final. Each organisation wants a different set:
- Most organisations: your marriage certificate and your final order (or decree absolute). Some still won't change it back without a deed poll.
- The DVLA: your final order and your birth certificate.
- The passport office: your birth certificate, your marriage certificate, a signed statement saying you've gone back to your old surname for all purposes, and one document showing you use it, like a payslip or council letter. They don't ask for your final order.
So you'll want all three to hand: final order, marriage certificate and birth certificate.
Using a deed poll
One page. It's the standard proof of a name change in the UK, and it covers an old name or a brand new one. For the DVLA and the passport office, add one document in your new name, like a bill or bank statement from the last 12 months.
- Make your own for free, or get it done for you
- Sign it in front of one witness
- No digging out old certificates
What I did. I went back to Akinyosoye with a deed poll I made myself. No birth certificate, no marriage certificate, just one page.
Make your free deed poll here →
How deed polls work →
The big ones, and how
There's no right order. Using a deed poll? Update something easy like your bank or energy first, so you've got a bill or statement in your new name to send the DVLA and the passport office.
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Driving licence
Honestly the most annoying one. You can't do it online, you pick up a D1 form at the Post Office, and you post it with your licence and your proof. Send your divorce papers and birth certificate, or a deed poll and a recent bill.
My DVLA guide → -
Passport
Not something I do yet, so it's one you sort yourself. Send a deed poll and one document showing you use the name, or the four documents above. It's £102 online (October 2026).
My passport guide → -
HMRC
Online or in the HMRC app is quickest. Your National Insurance number stays the same, so your records stay yours.
My HMRC guide → -
Your bank
Every bank's different. App banks like Monzo and Starling let you send a photo of your proof in the app's chat, and mine was done straight away. Check your app before you queue in a branch.
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Selling the house?
Ask your solicitor how a name change affects their ID checks before you change your ID halfway through a sale.
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Everyone else
Your council, GP, energy, water, electoral roll and more. Tick them off on your phone as you go.
Free name change checklist →
What it costs
Less than you'd think. Prices are from October 2026 and can change, so check GOV.UK before you pay.
| Deed poll | Free if you make your own |
|---|---|
| Two printed deed polls, posted | £15 from me |
| Driving licence | Free. £17 if it's expired, about to expire or you want a new photo. £20 if you've lost it |
| Passport | £102 online, £115.50 by post, paid to HM Passport Office |
| Copy of your marriage certificate | £12.50 from the GRO in England and Wales, if you use the papers route |
| Enrolling your deed poll | Optional, £53.05. Most people don't |
Or let me do the boring bits.
Going back or starting fresh, it's the same form. I prepare your deed poll and post it to you, put your DVLA pack together, and send your new name to HMRC, your council, GP, energy, water, electoral roll, TV Licensing and State Pension. £45, one-off. You don't need to wait for the final order, and your ex doesn't need to know.
I built this because it's the service I wish had existed when I went back to my name. It's literally just me. Not a big corporation, not a call centre.
Anna x
Questions about changing your name after divorce
Anything else? Email hello@mynamechanged.com or DM me on Instagram or TikTok. More answers on the FAQs page.
Can I go back to my maiden name before my divorce is final?
Yes. Once you've separated, you can go back to your old name whenever you're ready, using a deed poll. You don't need your final order or decree absolute first.
Do I have to change my name after divorce?
No. You can keep your married name for as long as you like. Lots of people keep it so it matches their children's surname.
Does my ex need to agree to me changing my name?
No. It's your name. Your ex doesn't need to know, agree or sign anything.
Can I use my divorce papers instead of a deed poll?
For a name you've had before, yes, once your divorce is final, but each organisation wants a different set. Most want your marriage certificate and final order (or decree absolute), and some still insist on a deed poll. The DVLA wants your final order and birth certificate. The passport office wants your birth certificate, marriage certificate, a signed statement that you've gone back to your old surname for all purposes, and one document showing you use it. A deed poll does the job on its own.
Can I choose a completely new name after divorce?
Yes. Go back to a name you had before, or pick something brand new. A new name needs a deed poll, because your divorce papers can't prove a name you've never had.
How do I change my name on my driving licence after divorce?
By post, on a D1 form from the Post Office. Send it with your licence and either your divorce papers and birth certificate, or a deed poll and one document in your new name, like a recent bill. If your passport's already in your new name, you can write your passport number instead.
How do I change my name on my passport after divorce?
Send a deed poll and one document showing you use the name, or your birth certificate, a signed statement, your marriage certificate and one document showing you use the name. Passports aren't part of my service yet, so it's one you sort yourself.
My marriage was annulled, or my civil partnership ended. Is it the same?
Yes, it works exactly the same way. Mine was an annulment, and I went back to my name with a deed poll.
Can I change my children's surname too?
Not with me, as my service is for adults. GOV.UK says changing a child's name needs the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility, or a court order. GOV.UK on changing a child's name.
How much does it cost to change your name after divorce?
The deed poll is free if you make your own, and changing your driving licence is free. A passport is £102 online (October 2026). If you'd rather I did it, it's £45 for your deed poll and every update I do, from one form.