Name change

He will likely need to do a deed poll name change, or speak the registrar as it may be possible for them to do it in the marriage certificate and then he can use that to update his records

He'll need a deed poll. Stupidly, women can use the marriage certificate, but men need a deed poll to legally change their last name.

Legally, a man can take his wife's surname the same as a woman can take her husbands or same sex and non binary people can adopt their spouses names. You don't need a deed poll.


If you search online, there are plenty of legal sites that explain the process is the same regardless of gender.

See below from Coop Legal Services:
A man is legally entitled to take his wife's surname upon marriage. Although it is still not considered to be the traditional approach, the number of men adopting their wives' surnames is reported to be on the rise. In addition, many other couples are choosing to either merge their two names together or double-barrel them.

How Can a Man Legally Change His Name to His Wife's?
The process for a man legally changing his name after marriage is exactly the same as the process for a woman. According to the Deed Poll Office (which is the government body that administers name changes) all UK Government bodies, including the Passport Office and the DVLA, will treat married men in exactly the same way as married women when changing their name.
For this reason, the Deed Poll Office recommends that formal identification documents such as passports and driving licences are updated first. These documents can then be used to facilitate the name change with other organisations, such as banks and insurers.

View quoted message So confused! I got this from the UK Deed poll website (https://www.ukdp.co.uk/name-change-marriage/#men)

The option of a husband taking his wife’s maiden name is also available to couples, although rather uncommon.

The process involved in this is different to that when a woman takes her husband’s name. You can simply start using your wife’s surname after your marriage but this is not sufficient if you want to formally change your name.

In order to get your personal records amended on documents such as your passport, you need to execute a Deed Poll. This would allow you to get all records changed into your new name without any problems or delays.

This is from another deed poll site:

If, following your marriage, you wish to double-barrel your surname with your wife’s surname, or take your wife’s surname, a Deed Poll is often required. Although some companies and organisations will change their records to your new double-barrelled surname, or to your wife’s surname, upon presentation of your marriage certificate, many will not, particularly the financial institutions e.g. banks and building societies. A Deed Poll will guarantee that your new surname will be accepted by everyone without question. Please note, government departments, including the Passport Office and DVLA accept marriage certificates as documentary evidence of a man changing his surname to a double-barrelled surname or for a man taking his wife’s surname. The only way to find out if you need a Deed Poll to get your non-government documents and records changed is to contact, for example, your bank, building society, credit card company and mortgage company etc and ask what their policy is for changing your surname upon marriage.

So yes, you can use the marriage certificate, but maybe check it'll be sufficient first.

View quoted message I'd also add that a lot of these deed poll sites are commercial businesses who make money from you using their services! So, of course they will benefit from advising to use a deed poll which they 'conveniently' provide.


But again, the law is the law! And if a man is barred from taking his wife's name, that's grounds for discrimination.https://deedpolloffice.com/advice/man-getting-married
Advice for a man getting married
The custom of changing your name on getting married has traditionally applied to women only. However, men can use a marriage certificate as evidence of a change of name, in the same way that a woman can. All of our advice for women getting married applies equally to men — whether you’ve got married to a woman, or a man (a same-sex marriage).
U.K. government bodies such as HM Passport Office and the DVLA treat married men and married women exactly the same. If you do decide to make a change to your surname, you’re much more likely to encounter difficulty changing your records with other organisations who may be less prepared to recognise your change of name.

Also, please note what it states clearly on the government website (it says nothing about gender).


The passport office charges for new passports anyway, so you'll have to pay regardless. Easier to get that done first and then driver’s license if you have one. Then you can tackle the banks etc.
https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll
Marriage and civil partnership
You do not need a deed poll to take your spouse’s or civil partner’s surname. Send a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate to record-holders, such as benefits offices. Your documents will be updated for free.

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