DEED POLL INFORMATION
1. What is a Deed Poll?
A deed poll is kind of an official legal document which enables you to officially change any part of your (or your child’s) name: you can add a new name, remove an existing name, change the spelling of your names, or even adopt a completely new name altogether, the choice is entirely yours.
Using a deed poll issued by us you will be able to get all important documents and records, including your passport, driving and bank account, updated to show your new name, etc.
Your new deed poll will confirm the following:
- You’ve given up your old name
- You’ve started using a new name
- The date you started using your new name
2. How to order a Deed Poll to legally change your name in the UK?
Order your deed poll in a simple, fast, and reliable way to legally change your name.
Below is a breakdown of the process to change your name with a deed poll and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about name changing process in the UK.
You can simply start an application by selecting apply for an adult deed poll or apply for a child deed poll.
3. What is the Deed Poll process?
4. Do you need a Deed Poll?
You may or may not need a deed poll to change your name, it depends on the reason and circumstances.
For example, if you have recently separated from your partner, and your divorce is not yet issued but you wish to switch back to your maiden name then you will need a deed poll to change your name.
However, if you recently got married in the UK, then your marriage certificate will suffice as sufficient evidence to proof your new name.
5. When do you not need a deed poll to change your name?
You will not need a deed poll if you have another official document which confirms your new name.
For example, after getting married, you will not need a deed poll to change your name in the following situations:
- Your marriage was finalised in the UK, and you have your valid marriage certificate.
- The marriage certificate states both your maiden name and your partner’s last name that you are changing to.
However, if you have lost your marriage certificate, or you want to change your name to something other than your partner’s last name, you will need a deed poll to prove change of name.
You may also not need a deed poll, if you are getting divorced, and you want to switch back to your maiden name, if you can prove the following:
- Your marriage and divorce took place in the UK
- Your divorce is finalised
- You have a decree absolute
6. When would you need a deed poll to change your name?
In most cases, you will need a deed poll when you want to change your name unless it is after a marriage or a divorce.
You will need a deed poll if you want to change your name.
Some of the reasons may be because you don’t like your current name, you want to identify with a different culture or religion, or you have changed your gender.
Note that nothing stops you from using a deed poll to document your change of name in addition to other forms of evidence. The deed poll (or marriage certificate, for example) doesn’t change your name itself because you acquire a new name by using it. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with documenting your name change in more than one way if you wish.
7. How do I Apply for a Deed Poll in the UK?
Option 1 is to seek legal assistance from a solicitor who will charge you their standard fee plus fee for the deed poll.
Option 2 is our simply, fast, low-cost, and reliable service. Order your deed poll with us in 3 simple step process.
STEP 1. Complete the online application
Complete our secure online deed poll application form. You will be guided to pay using our secure payment platform system with your debit card, credit card, or PayPal.
STEP 2. You will receive your deed poll plus copies
All orders placed before 3 PM (Mon-Fri) will be processed the same day, and dispatched within two working days.
STEP 3. Witness your deed poll and certified copies
When you received your deed poll, you will need one witness to sign your deed poll. The witness must see you signing your deed poll and then the witness will sign the document.
You will receive instruction document with your Deed Poll to guide you on how to execute your Deed Poll.
Once you signed your deed poll and it is witnessed. You can use your deed poll to officially change your name with organisations like passport office, HMRC, DVLA, Bank, etc.
8. What are the restrictions on changing a name?
There are a few restrictions on the names you can choose. Here are some things to consider when selecting a new name via deed poll.
You can change your name for any reason, provided that it is not for deceptive or fraudulent purposes. However, names should not:
- Be impossible to pronounce or very long.
- Includes numbers or symbols.
- Be vulgar, offensive or blasphemous.
- Promote criminal activities and racial or religious hatred.
- Be a trademark or be subject to copyright.
- If you are picking a title, it has to be a British accepted title (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, and Mx)
- For Home Office applications, include diacritical marks (accents, cedillas, circumflexes, umlauts, etc).
Avoid making any political statements or use a group of words that aren’t usually considered to be a name. This should avoid giving rise to any complications when updating your passport, driving license, etc.
Please note that adding academic titles to your name can be rejected unless you can provide evidence to prove that you are entitled to use the title – For example, Sir, Lady, Dr, or Lord.
Your new name may be rejected if they contain:
- Symbols, Numbers or Punctuation marks.
9. Who can act as a witness in your Deed Poll?
Anyone over the age of 18 can witness your Deed Poll:
- The witness must know you
- The witness must be independent of you (they are not your partner, relative, or someone who lives at the same address as you).
- The witness must have adequate mental capacity
- The witness has to be present to witness you signing the deed poll
You do not need a solicitor or public notary to act as a witness to your deed poll if you are British and live in the UK unless you a resident of Jersey.
If you are a British citizen and live overseas, you might need to have your Deed Poll witnessed by a lawyer or a notary public.
10. How long does it take to legally change your name?
All orders placed before 3 PM (Mon-Fri) will be processed the same day and dispatched within two working days.
You will then execute the deed poll with your witness present.
You will then need to compile a list of the organisations and institutions whom you will need to notify of your name change and update it with them using your deed poll as evidence of your change of name.
11. Who do I need to inform after a name change?
You will need to inform all the organisations and institutions with whom you wish to update your records of your new name.
Below is a list of the most common organisations, institutions:
12. How old do I have to be to legally change my name via a Deed Poll?
You must be 16 years of age or more to execute your own deed poll.
If you are 16 or 17 years old, you don’t need to have the consent of your parents or anyone with parental responsibility for you to change your name. However, your legal guardians can override your wishes in exceptional circumstances and not just because they don’t like your new name.
If there is a court order in force preventing you from changing your name, you will have to wait until you are 18 years old.
Anyone with parental responsibility can change the name of their child who is under the age of 16 years old, provided they provide consent to this change.
13. Are there any nationality restrictions?
All British nationals can change their name by applying for a deed poll. However, there may be some special restrictions on applying for a passport, depending on where you live.
If you want to change your name and you live abroad, you should think carefully about how you will change your passport otherwise you may be denied entry into a country or refused passage by an airline. Overseas passport applications are also handled by HM Passport Office, but you may need to go to a regional passport application centre outside the U.K.
Foreign Nationals
Our deed polls are primarily intended for British nationals, but can also be used by foreign nationals in some situations:
If you live in the U.K — You can use a deed poll to update your documents and records in the U.K., such as your driving licence and your tax records, but to update your documents in your country of origin, you’ll have to follow your own country’s procedure.
If you are an immigrant to the U.K.
UKVI (which is part of the Home Office) will accept a deed poll as evidence of a change of name.
If you need to apply for a Biometric Residence Permit, U.K. Visas & Immigration will also accept a deed poll. If you already hold a Biometric Residence Permit and you change your name, then you should apply for a new permit.
14. How much does it cost to change your name using a deed poll?
It costs £19.95 for a standard online deed poll application, including postage.
The price is the same for an adult and a child application.
We guarantee that our deed poll will be accepted as a valid document to prove your change of name by government and private institutions. Otherwise, we will refund your money back, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
15. How many deed poll copies do I need?
We recommend that you order at least 10 copies because we do not keep a permanent record of your personal data unless you order our archiving service, and so we cannot re-issue your deed poll if you lose it. There is no set number of copies to order.
When you change your name, many record holders will insist on seeing an original deed poll so ordering several duplication originals lets you notify several records holders and update your records fast.
Note that each duplication is an original deed poll and must be executed in the same way and on the same date.
Once your deed poll has been executed (signed in front of a witness), if you want a copy of it you will have to get a certified copy from a magistrate or a Commissioner for Oaths, which is normally more expensive.
16. Is there an official Deed Poll Office in the UK?
There is no such thing as an official deed poll office or deed poll service. Deed Poll is the means to change your name legally in the UK.
You can use a solicitor to prepare your deed poll for you (they will charge you their standard fee plus the cost for deed poll).
We are the simple, fast, secure and low-cost alternative – our deed poll application process is simple and secure. We guarantee your money back if you deed poll is not accepted.
17. What if I make a mistake on my Deed Poll?
Note that you cannot use correction fluid on your Deed Poll. If you have made a mistake whilst executing your Deed Poll, then you should destroy it. If you have a duplicate copy, then execute it properly without making any mistake to avoid giving rise to any complications when updating your records with organisation and institutions. If you do not have a duplication copy, then please apply to order a new Deed Poll from us.