change of name

A person may change his *surname simply by using a different name with sufficient consistency to become generally known by that name. A change is normally given formal publicity (e.g. by means of a statutory declaration, deed poll, or newspaper advertisement), but this is not legally necessary.A young child, however, has no power to change his surname, nor does one parent have such a power without the consent of the other, even if that parent has sole custody of the child. (An injunction may be sought to prevent a parent from attempting to change a child’s name unilaterally.) When a mother has remarried after divorce or is living with another person, and wishes to change the name of the child to that of her new partner, a court order must be obtained and the welfare of the child will be the first and paramount consideration.

A person’s Christian name (i.e. a name given to him at baptism) can, under ecclesiastical law, be changed only on his subsequent confirmation.