No legal procedure is required to start using a new name. But, you might need a "deed poll" to apply for or make alterations to official documents like your passport. It's really simple and straightforward to change your last name or for a family name change.
When changing a surname,
there are a few options to consider, most of them are related to marriage. You
might decide to change your last name for a variety of reasons. One of them is
marriage, where one partner may choose to take the other spouse's last name or
they may both choose to create a new surname. If the person chooses to add the
name of the partner after their own, it is up to them whether to hyphenate it.
In addition, some people
seek to change their last name following a divorce. After a divorce or legal
separation, one can choose if they want to resume using their family name. The
right to alter one's given name, middle name, or last name at any time
throughout one's lifetime exists for everyone who is of legal age to do so on
their own.
How to Change Your Name
Thankfully, changing a
surname is a quick and simple process. As a result of marriage or a civil
partnership, a person may take on their spouse's or partner's name. To
accomplish this, they only need to produce a copy of the marriage or civil
partnership certificate to the institutions that preserve records, such as the
passport office, etc. While some institutions will recognize a marriage or
civil union certificate as proof of a change of surname, others might require
an official document, like a Deed Poll. When you change your name by Deed Poll,
it will be verified that you have decided to use the new name rather than the
old one. This new name should be used going forward in all usages.