Surname changed without consent

M

Mandyjou

Active Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
34
Reaction score
1
I was married in 2011 and requested that I keep my maiden name. I discovered recently that my surname has been changed to my married surname. Now I am requesting that it be changed back to the maiden name and I am told that they cannot just change it back I have to get divorced. Home Affairs says they can help me but will charge R9000!!. I married a foreigner and he never updated his papers so they thought he disappeared. Apparently because of this there were 2 other marriages attached to my name but never got approved. Can anyone please assist me on how I can sort this out so I can get my maiden name back. I don't have my marriage certificate as it was destroyed in a house fire.
 
Just say your husband also died in the house fire and that you now identify as your maiden name.
 
RedViking said:
Unwanted surname. Married to a foreigner. He disappeared (or he didn't?). Marriage certificate lost in a fire. 2 other marriages.

What am I missing?
Click to expand...
That's it. However no effort was made from DHA to contact him to notify him that his papers were expired and why hasn't he renewed them.
 
RedViking said:
Unwanted surname. Married to a foreigner. He disappeared (or he didn't?). Marriage certificate lost in a fire. 2 other marriages.

What am I missing? What really happened to your husband? Does he still exist?
Click to expand...
Nothing happened to my husband his still around.
 
Assuming a different surname (Section 26 of Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992)

A woman may assume her husband's surname, or revert to her maiden surname or a prior surname she legally bore, and since 1997 a woman may also join her surname with that of her husband's as a double-barreled surname.

No application to the Department of Home Affairs is necessary in these instances, but to enable the Department to update the Population Register, women should notify the Department of such changes in writing.

Apart from the aforesaid exclusions, no major may assume another surname unless such change of surname has been approved by the Director-General of Home Affairs and has been published in the Government Gazette. Applications in this regard may be lodged at any domestic Home Affairs office or any South African embassy, mission or consulate abroad.

Applications must be on a duly completed Form BI-196 and a good and sufficient reason, in writing, for the change must be furnished.
Click to expand...

http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/amendments
 
RedViking said:
Why is it their responsibility to check if he is still legally in the country? It is his responsibility.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree but the issue is not about him. The issue is with my surname. How to get it changed back to the maiden name. And before you ask why I want it changed back. I do business using my maiden name and I want to keep my family name.
 
RedViking said:
Mmmm.... That form might not be the correct one or needed. . If I understand te website correctly, no form is needed and they need to update their system at your request and in writing.
Click to expand...
Yes but like I explained they are telling me they can't just change it without a divorce. They keep giving us shitty stories and want money!
 
Mandyjou said:
I can assure you that is what I have been told. I just want my maiden name back.
Click to expand...
My mom has been trying to get her maiden name back for years now. Good luck with that. She also has all the correct documents. Home Affairs, like most systems we use. Are badly setup.
 
Mandyjou said:
Yes but like I explained they are telling me they can't just change it without a divorce. They keep giving us shitty stories and want money!
Click to expand...
I wonder why they can do it for R8000? Home Affairs is a pain in the backside. Need to go renew my passport, but everytime I go their system is offline. Useless.
 
Be very patient and friendy. Take a few days leave and try a few different home afairs until you get someone not looking for a bribe. Or negotiate the bribe down to R500 or something more affordable for you.

Then also start with the simple things like just replacing any documents destroyed in your house fire. Doesn't matter if it's wrong and go from there.
 
Mandyjou said:
Yes I agree but the issue is not about him. The issue is with my surname. How to get it changed back to the maiden name. And before you ask why I want it changed back. I do business using my maiden name and I want to keep my family name.
Click to expand...
If you've been doing so for the past 8 years why stop now, keep using your maiden name. My wife has her maiden name on her ID and her married name on her passport and no one has ever questioned it.

Your maiden name is still on your ID book, right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X