Any person in Scotland can change their surname, forename, or both as per the law, provided they do not intend to defraud anyone. Even though it is possible to informally change your name, there are some agencies that can ask for proof to show the connection between the original name and the newly adopted one. These include banks, HM Passport Office, some schools and the DVLA.
There can be many reasons behind why people want to change their name. Some of the valid reasons for doing so include dislike of the previous name, a change in gender, discrepancy in names used in different formal documents, or adjustment of a name to make it easy to pronounce.
How to change your name in Scotland? The process will depend on when the name change is happening. For instance, anyone under the age of 16 who wants to change their name cannot do so without the consent of their parent. The one with parental responsibility needs to sign off for the name change to happen.
A signed document called a statutory declaration is needed to provide proof of a change in name. This is a formal declaration that from a specific date, an individual has been using, or will use a new name. A Notary Public usually prepares this document and it should also contain a reference to the statutory provision, which is relevant. It should also be dated and signed in the presence of a Notary Public and they also need to sign and add their seal.
If the name has to be changed on the birth certificate, the process is different and it also depends on when the name is being changed i.e. the age of the person. There is also a limit to the number of times the name can be changed.