How Do I Change My Name By Deed Poll?
What is a Deed Poll?
A Deed Poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. If you’d like to start using a new name, you don’t necessarily have to use a Deed Poll – you can just start calling yourself by your new name. However, if you would like to have official documents – e.g. passport, driving licence, bank account, credit cards and medical records – in your new name, you can apply to have your name legally changed by Deed Poll.
Why would I want to change my name?
There are many and varied reasons why an individual might choose to change their name, including:
- When you are getting married or divorced – but only in some cases – see below.
- You’re not getting married, but wish to take your partners name, or create a new name
- You have always used a different name to your birth name, and would like official documents to reflect that.
- There is part of your name you don’t like or has negative connotations for you
- Maybe you just want to change the spelling of your name
- You feel you are being discriminated against because of your name
By Deed Poll you can officially change any part of your name or your entire name. For example, you can change your forenames or surname – or both. You can add names, remove names, and change the spelling of your names. You can change your name by deed poll as often as you want, provided it is not for deceptive or fraudulent purposes.
Do I need to use a Deed Poll to change my name if I’m getting married or divorced?
You don’t need a Deed Poll to take your partner’s surname after a marriage or civil partnership. You will be able to apply for documents in your new name using your marriage or civil partnership certificate. But this is not always the case if you are a married man taking your wife’s surname or if you are double-barrelling or “meshing” (making a new surname out of both) your surnames. In these cases, you may prefer to change your name by Deed Poll (which should always provide acceptable proof of your name).
Similarly if you are getting divorced, you should not need a Deed Poll to revert to your maiden name.
How do I change my name by Deed Poll?
So, how do you change your name by Deed Poll? You have to sign a Deed Poll document in the presence of a witness. This form essentially says three things:
- I am abandoning the use of my old name
- I shall always use my new name
- I require all persons to address me by my new name
The forms required are available to download on the UK Government’s website, here: https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll
Your witness needs to be someone who has known you for a long time, but not a relative or partner.
You must be over 18 to make a Deed Poll. You can change a child’s name by Deed Poll, but you must have the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility.
Will it cost anything to change my name by Deed Poll?
There is no official “Deed Poll Office” in the UK, and the documents required to make a Deed Poll can be downloaded from the UK Government’s website for free.
You can follow the instructions and prepare the deed poll yourself.
The are many online companies offering a deed poll service, often for a fee. Be wary and do your research! There are also websites offering a free deed poll service including http://freedeedpoll.org.uk/
If you prefer, a solicitor can prepare a deed poll for you and make sure that everything is correct.
Enrolling Your Deed Poll
You can “enrol” your deed poll with the Royal Courts of Justice for a small fee. Enrolling a Deed Poll provides a public record of a person’s name as the details of the name change are published in the London Gazette. This is optional however.