Two years after my divorce, I am still entangled in the bureaucratic nightmare of reverting to my maiden name. The process is slow, painstaking, and, to make matters worse, fraught with the risk of losing original documents as every institution demands them. This isn't just a personal story; it's a common ordeal for many who wish to change their names post-divorce or for other reasons. Marriage, gender realignment whatever changes in your life lead to a name change. 

There is, however, a potential solution at hand—the Gov.Uk  'Tell Us Once' service. This service is invaluable when someone dies, as it allows a person to report a death just once, instead of contacting multiple authorities. All the hard work has been done! So now I think  it is time to expand and adapt this service for other significant life changes like marriage, divorce or name changes; which should be straightforward and inclusive for anyone wishing to change their name, regardless of the reason.

Integrating such a service would streamline the process, ensuring that once a name change is registered, the information could automatically and securely be shared with all necessary institutions. This would save countless hours, reduce frustration, and prevent the loss of critical documents.

Statistics show that over 100,000 divorces occur annually in the UK alone, affecting not just women seeking to return to their maiden names but also individuals wishing to change their name for other personal or professional reasons.

It's time for the government to acknowledge the significance of making this service available beyond its current limits, for the well-being and efficiency of its citizens.

Let's push for a systematic, empathetic approach to name changes and ease the burdens on those navigating this path. Please sign this petition to urge the relevant authorities to extend 'Tell Us Once' to include name changes so that we can focus on starting fresh without the administrative drudgery holding us back. Let's make a change, for everyone. The living… not just the dead!