Make your own deed poll

You need to be 16 or over to make an 鈥榰nenrolled鈥� deed poll. Some organisations may not accept a deed poll you鈥檝e made yourself as proof of your new name. Ask the organisation you鈥檙e dealing with (for example your bank) if they need an 鈥榚nrolled鈥� deed poll instead. A specialist agency or a solicitor can make the deed poll for you - they may charge a fee. How to make your own deed poll You鈥檒l need 2 witnesses to sign your deed poll. They must be 18 or over. Some organisations will not accept a deed poll if a witness lives at the same address or is a close relative. Use the following wording. Replace the words in the square brackets with the relevant details. Name change deed 鈥淚 [old name] of [your address] have given up my name [old name] and have adopted for all purposes the name [new name]. 鈥淲here applicable, I have informed the police that I have given up my name [old name] and have adopted the name [new name] and understand that a failure to do so is a criminal offence. 鈥淚 also understand that when I apply for official documents in my new name, such as a British Passport, the relevant authorities may check the history and validity of my old name [old name] and new name [new name]. They may also check the information in any other supporting documents they have requested. 鈥淪igned as a deed on [date] as [old name] and [new name] in the presence of [witness 1 name] of [witness 1 address], and [witness 2 name] of [witness 2 address]. 鈥淸your new signature], [your old signature] 鈥淸witness 1 signature], [witness 2 signature]鈥� After you鈥檝e made your deed poll You can use your signed deed poll straight away as proof of your new name. It鈥檚 a criminal offence if you鈥檙e a registered offender and you do not tell the police you鈥檝e changed your name.

Enrol a deed poll with the courts

You can put your new name on public record by 鈥榚nrolling鈥� it at the Royal Courts of Justice if you鈥檙e 18 or over. It costs 拢50.32 and cheques should be made payable to HMCTS . If you鈥檙e under 18, follow the process for changing a child鈥檚 name to enrol. Download the guidance and forms for changing an adult鈥檚 name - this includes the notification form for The Gazette . Send your forms and documents to the King鈥檚 Bench Division. King鈥檚 Bench Division Enforcement Section Room E15 The Royal Courts of Justice Strand London WC2A 2LL It鈥檚 a criminal offence if you鈥檙e a registered offender and you do not tell the police you鈥檝e changed your name.

Change a child鈥檚 name

To change the name of a child under 18 you can either: make an unenrolled deed poll by using a specialist deed poll agency or a solicitor apply for an enrolled deed poll from the Royal Courts of Justice If you choose an enrolled deed poll, this means your child鈥檚 new name will usually appear on public record in The Gazette . Some organisations will only accept an enrolled deed poll as proof of a name change. Ask the organisation you鈥檙e dealing with which type of deed poll they鈥檒l need. If you鈥檙e 16 or 17 you can choose to make your own unenrolled deed poll . Apply for an enrolled deed poll You鈥檒l need either: the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility a court order You must try to reach agreement before you seek a court order. If everyone with parental responsibility agrees Download and complete the forms for changing a child鈥檚 name - this includes the notification form for The Gazette. It costs 拢50.32 to apply. Send your forms and documents to the King鈥檚 Bench Division. If you鈥檙e worried about your child鈥檚 name change being published in The Gazette, contact the King鈥檚 Bench Division. For example, they may agree to only publish your child鈥檚 first name. King鈥檚 Bench Division Enforcement Section Room E15 The Royal Courts of Justice Strand London WC2A 2LL Telephone: 020 3936 8957 (choose option 6) Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Find out about call charges If you need a court order Read the guidance on making an application to the court. Fill in form C100 for a 鈥榮pecific issue order鈥�. Send your form to your nearest court that deals with child cases. It costs 拢232 to apply for a court order. You may be able to get help with court fees if you鈥檙e on benefits or a low income.

Change your name by deed poll: How to change your name

Change your name by deed poll

How to change your name

You do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name. But you might need a 鈥榙eed poll鈥� to apply for or to change official documents like your passport or driving licence.

There are different rules for .

Get a deed poll

A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. You can change any part of your name, add or remove names and hyphens, or change spelling.

There are 2 ways to get a聽deed poll. You can either:

make an 鈥榰nenrolled鈥� deed poll yourself
apply for an 鈥榚nrolled鈥� deed poll

Ask the organisation you鈥檙e dealing with (for example your bank) which type of deed poll they鈥檒l accept as proof of your new name.

If you鈥檙e a permanent resident overseas, you cannot change your name by deed poll.

Make an 鈥榰nenrolled鈥� deed poll

You can change your name yourself if you鈥檙e 16 or over.

Apply for an 鈥榚nrolled鈥� deed poll

鈥楨nrolling鈥� a deed poll means that you鈥檙e putting your new name on public record.

You must apply to the Royal Courts of Justice to get an 鈥榚nrolled鈥� deed poll using the deed poll process. It costs 拢50.32.

You can only enrol your own name change if you鈥檙e 18 or over. The process is different to change the name of a child under 18.

Marriage and civil partnership

You do not need a deed poll to take your spouse鈥檚 or civil partner鈥檚 surname. Send a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate to record-holders, such as benefits offices. Your documents will be updated for free.

If you divorce or end your civil partnership

You may be able to go back to your original name by showing record-holders either your:

marriage certificate and decree absolute
civil partnership certificate and final order

Some organisations will not change your name back without a deed poll.

If you鈥檙e a registered offender

You must tell the police you鈥檝e changed your name within 3 days if you鈥檙e a registered:

sex offender
violent offender
terrorist offender

You must go to your local prescribed police station to do this. You鈥檒l be told where this is on release.

It鈥檚 a criminal offence if you do not tell the police you鈥檝e changed your name.

View a printable version of the whole guide

188体育

Change your name by deed poll

How to change your name

Get a deed poll

Make an 鈥榰nenrolled鈥� deed poll

Apply for an 鈥榚nrolled鈥� deed poll

Marriage and civil partnership

If you divorce or end your civil partnership

If you鈥檙e a registered offender

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Change your name by deed poll

How to change your name

Get a deed poll

Make an 鈥榰nenrolled鈥� deed poll

Apply for an 鈥榚nrolled鈥� deed poll

Marriage and civil partnership

If you divorce or end your civil partnership

If you鈥檙e a registered offender

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Help us improve 188体育

Help us improve 188体育