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Is there a way to legally change your identity, similar to the witness protection program?

• EliRivers 14y ago
  You can simply go by another name in many countries, without having to tell any formal authority. In the UK, if you want a piece of paper to go with it (perhaps for applying for a new passport or the like), you can get a statutory declaration or a deed poll; I know someone who needed one to get his bank account details changed and he literally dropped in unannounced over a lunchtime at a local lawyer's office to bang one out. Of course, if the perpetrator discovers this, they can just start again using the new name.
  • Zikes 14y ago
    But what about credentials? Any degrees or certifications would have to be re-issued, and past employers that might be called for reference would only know him by his current name.
    • EliRivers 14y ago
      Didn't seem to bother him. He just has the degree/certificate in his old name, and his paperwork showing the name change. It's still quite common in the UK for women to change their name when they get married and they don't seem to have any problems of this nature.
      • Zikes 14y ago
        Well, I think the key reason for the name change in this situation is to completely remove the old name from consideration. Having any papers referencing the old name brings up exactly the same issue, whereby a potential employer would say "oh, their name used to be Clayworth? I wonder what I can find about that on Google..."