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Should I change my surname on my passport?


Laura
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When I get married, I would like to use my husband's surname instead of my maiden name, as many women do. Had I still been a UK resident, I'd have changed it on my passport and all my documents in order to completely lose my maiden name.

However, in France this is going to be complicated. It would be so much simpler if I was a French national with a carte d'identité with both surnames appearing on it, but how am I going to prove my identity with my passport if I introduce myself with my husband's surname and then present my ID which has only my maiden name on it?

There are going to be times where I need to prove my identity with my maiden name (filling in official forms for the préfecture etc) and times where I'll need proof of my married name when I introduce myself as such. How does this work? All the married women out there - did you change your name on your passport or did you resort to taking a copy of your acte de mariage everywhere with you as well?
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Marriage certificate ???? !!!

It's worth getting a couple of certified copies as a simple photocopy is not considered 'official'. Never had any problem going to husband's name when I've waved the certificate !
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You eventually succumb to changing everything to your married name for simplicity.  I tried to keep my passport in my maiden name because I didn't want one of the new European style passports.  I slipped up and booked a holiday in my marrried name by mistake and had a big fuss at the airport, even with a marriage certificate.

I agree with Callie - get some certified copies just in case while you are deciding what to do.

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I have a maiden name, a name from my first marriage and my husband's name. It was simple in the UK and to change from my first husband's name to my second was going to involve costs so I didn't do it. So if I am being forced into changing by French intransigence how do I go about changing the name on my passport?
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ontheway,

Yes I am getting PACSed first. I have been with my boyfriend for ages but we've only just got around to officially moving in together, and seeing as we now legally share an apartment we thought we may as well get PACSed straight away in order to reduce the amount of taxes we pay, and also as a way of officialising our relationship as we will not be getting married just yet. That doesn't stop me from thinking about the future and wondering how the name/ID system works though! Just curious for the moment you see...
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[quote user="SkiingSista73"]When I get married, I would like to use my husband's surname instead of my maiden name, as many women do. Had I still been a UK resident, I'd have changed it on my passport and all my documents in order to completely lose my maiden name. However, in France this is going to be complicated. It would be so much simpler if I was a French national with a carte d'identité with both surnames appearing on it, but how am I going to prove my identity with my passport if I introduce myself with my husband's surname and then present my ID which has only my maiden name on it? There are going to be times where I need to prove my identity with my maiden name (filling in official forms for the préfecture etc) and times where I'll need proof of my married name when I introduce myself as such. How does this work? All the married women out there - did you change your name on your passport or did you resort to taking a copy of your acte de mariage everywhere with you as well?[/quote]

I still have my passport in my maiden name, but got my driving licence changed to show married name. Then changed UK driving licence to French driving licence which shows both names.  I have never had a problem using a driving licence as proof of identity. The only thing to remember is, as another poster has said, if you are booking travel (ferry, flights, etc) the ticket must be in your maiden name. Easy peasy!

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