Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be to change your name?

You have to be over 16 to legally change your own name in the U.K.

A child’s name can be changed by someone with parental responsibility, so long as everyone with parental responsibility agrees.

Once you’re 16, though, it’s your own decision as to what name you want to be called, and you don’t need consent from your parents or anyone else.

If you’re 16 or 17, and you’re subject to certain court orders (e.g. a Residence Order) then you may still need consent from everyone with parental responsibility to change your name.  (Once you’re 18, these court orders will come to an end, and you’ll be free to change your name to whatever you want.)

Bear in mind that if you’re a national of a country other than the U.K. (even if you also have British nationality), that country may require you to be 18 (or older) to change your name.  If that’s the case, you may still change your name in the U.K., but you won’t be able to update your passport (from that country) to be in your new name.

How many times can you change your name by deed poll?

So long as each change of name you do is a genuine change of name, there’s no limit to the number of times you can change your name.

A “genuine” change of name means —

• you mean to use and become known by your new name for all purposes
• you update all your official documents and records to be in the new name
• you are not changing your name for a fraudulent or illegal purpose

How much does a deed poll cost?

It costs £ 18.00 for a standard online deed poll application, including postage.  The price is the same for an adult and a child application, but there are reduced rates when multiple family members apply at the same time.  For more details, see the current price list.

What price reductions are there for multiple applications?

Family members that apply (online) at the same time pay £ 18 for the first application, and the following reduced rates for additional applications:

• Additional adult applications cost £ 9.00
• Additional child applications cost £ 6.00

We will always try to calculate the lowest possible combined price, for example if you order any adult and child deed polls in the same application.

To qualify for additional deed polls at the reduced price all applicants must live at the same address.  Anyone who lives at a different address should make a separate application.  (For child applications the applicant is the person who will execute (sign) the deed poll on the child's behalf — not the child themself.)

For more information about prices, see the current price list.

What other costs will there be to change my name?

Almost all record holders will update your records free of charge, including the DVLA.

HM Passport Office currently charge £ 82.50 (if you apply online) to amend an adult passport, or £ 53.50 for a child passport.  However, you would receive a new 10-year passport (or 5-year passport for a child).  HM Passport Office will also add any remaining time left on your passport to your new passport, up to a maximum of 9 months.

How long will it take to change my name in total?

We aim to process your application and despatch the order within 2 working days of receiving it.  Thus you can normally expect the deed poll to arrive within 3–4 working days, with standard First Class delivery.

We also offer a priority service, for an additional fee of £ 4.50.  With the priority service, applications are processed and despatched the same working day — provided your order was received before 3 p.m. If your order is received after 3 p.m., we treat it as though it had arrived the following day.

The whole process of updating your records with all record holders usually takes 3–8 weeks, depending on how promptly you do it.  We recommend that you order several duplicates of your deed poll so that you can notify several record holders at once — having only one copy of the deed poll will slow down the process considerably.

HM Passport Office generally processes applications within 3 weeks.  You can choose to pay more to have your application processed more quickly.  If you are in a rush, you can apply in person at one of the 7 regional HM Passport Office customer service centres  using their Premium one-day service .  Note that you will need to make an appointment beforehand.

The DVLA normally processes driving licence applications within 3 weeks.

Is there an official deed poll office?

No, there is no such thing as an official deed poll office or deed poll service.  There is a lot of confusion about what a deed poll is — it is a legal document — not a certificate; and any solicitor could also prepare a deed poll for you.  Changing your name officially means that you change it for all purposes, to be the name on your passport, driving licence, and so on.  A deed poll is a means to accomplishing that fact.  Our deed polls are accepted by all official bodies in the U.K.

Is a deed poll proof of identity?

No — a deed poll is proof that you have changed your name, but it is not a proof of identity.  However, if you have changed your name, it is used as evidence of your identity in conjunction with other identity documents, such as your birth certificate or your passport.

A deed poll is a legal document, which is ultimately authenticated by you and your witness — it is not a certificate.  When you present your deed poll as evidence of your new name, you always have to produce your identification documents as well.

Note that when any organisation has to establish your identity, such as HM Passport Office or the DVLA, and your application involves more than one name change, they will insist on seeing all your deed polls, as well as your identification documents, because they need evidence of each link from the name on your identification documents to your current name.

Do I have to send you my identification documents?

No, we don’t ask you to send us your identification documents, because a deed poll is not a proof of identity, and if we did insist on seeing identification documents, it would make little to no difference to the status of your deed poll.  So although there is some value in us seeing your documents, it does not justify the risk or expense of sending them through the post.

When you use your deed poll to update your documents in your new name, you always have to produce your identification documents as well.  A deed poll is not a certificate, and we are not a certifying authority — a deed poll is a legal document which is ultimately authenticated by you and your witness.

Do I have to send you proof of consent from everyone with parental responsibility to change my child’s name?

No, we don’t ask to see proof of consent from everyone with parental responsibility for the same reason we don’t need to see identification documents: a deed poll is not a certificate — it is a legal document, which is ultimately authenticated by you and your witness.  It does not certify that you have parental responsibility, and when you present it as evidence of your child’s change of name, you always have to produce the proof of consent from everyone with parental responsibility as well.  If we did insist on seeing proof of consent, it would make little to no difference to the status of your deed poll.  So although there is some value in us seeing it, it does not justify the risk or expense of sending them through the post.

Note that we consider it an important and valuable part of our service to establish who has parental responsibility, and under what legislation.  We include a summary of this information and letter templates when we send you your deed poll, which you can send with the deed poll to record holders when you update your child’s records.  Few organisations, other than HM Passport Office, have a complete understanding of all the rules governing parental responsibility, except in the most simple cases.

Do I need to send my deed poll back to you after I have signed it?

No, your deed poll is valid once you have signed it (in front of a witness) — you do not need to send it back to us.

Can I order duplicates (copies) of my deed poll?

Yes — when you make a deed poll application you can specify how many duplicates of your deed poll you would like to order.  Each duplicate is an original document and must be executed (signed in front of a witness) in the same way and at the same time.  Duplicates cost an extra £ 4.00 each.

After your application has been processed we cannot re-issue your deed poll.  Thus it is important to order a sufficient number of duplicates when you make your application.  Once your deed poll has been executed, if you want a copy of it (assuming you haven’t lost it) you will have to get a certified copy from a magistrate or a Commissioner for Oaths, which is normally more expensive.

How many duplicates of my deed poll should I order?

We recommend that you order at least —

• 5–7 duplicates for an adult (over 16)
• 3–5 duplicates for a child (under 16)

It’s a good idea to order several duplicates of your deed poll, because we do not keep a permanent record of your personal data (unless you order our SafeStorage™ (archiving) service), and so we cannot re-issue your deed poll if you lose it.

When you come to having your records updated, many record holders will insist on seeing an original deed poll.  Ordering several duplicate originals therefore lets you notify several record holders at once — having only one copy of the deed poll will slow down the process considerably.  Exactly how many duplicates you should order depends on how quickly you want to have your records updated.

Note that each duplicate is an original document and must be executed in the same way and at the same time.  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.

How do I get certified copies of a previously issued deed poll?

A certified copy is a photocopy of an original document with an endorsement saying that it’s a true copy of the original.

Deed Poll Office doesn’t provide a certified copy service.  However, if you’ve got your original document, you can easily make a certified copy by taking a photocopy of it to any solicitor or magistrate and asking them to certify it for you.  There’ll normally be a fee for this service.

When you order a deed poll through us, though, we give you the opportunity to order duplicate originals of your deed poll.  These are original deed poll documents (and so of course, each one needs to be signed and witnessed (i.e. “executed”) in the same way).

It’s better to have duplicate originals of your document, if possible, rather than having certified copies.  You’d only (typically) need to have a certified copy made if you need an extra copy at a later point in time (after your deed poll has been executed).

If you’ve lost your deed poll (or statutory declaration / affidavit) and you need a copy, you should apply for a replacement deed poll.

Read more about certified copies

Who can act as a witness when I sign my deed poll?

If you’re a British national living in the U.K., Isle of Man, or Bailiwick of Guernsey, your witness needs to be someone who —

• is aged 18 years or more and is resident in the U.K.
• knows who you are
• is independent from you — that is, they should not be a relative or your partner, or someone you live with
• has mental capacity — that is, they must be able to make decisions for themself without being affected by any impairment or disturbance of the mind, whether permanent or temporary
• can be physically present to watch you sign the deed poll

Apart from these conditions, your witness could be anyone — a friend, neighbour, or colleague, for example.

If you’re a British national living abroad or in the Bailiwick of Jersey, or if you need to have your deed poll legalised, your deed poll should be witnessed by a solicitor or notary public.

If you’re a foreign national, you should check with your Embassy or High Commission in the U.K. to see what requirements there may be for a deed poll to be accepted by your country of origin.

When do I need to have my deed poll witnessed by a solicitor?

You need to have your deed poll witnessed by a solicitor or a notary public if:

• you are a British national living abroad
• you are a British national living in the Bailiwick of Jersey
• you are a foreign national (although you should check with your local Embassy what requirements there are in your country of origin)
• you need to have your deed poll legalised, for example if you are getting married abroad

A solicitor will charge you a fee for this service — the fee is generally between £ 5 and £ 10, although you should check first what it will be.  A notary public will generally charge more.

If you want to find solicitor or notary public in your area, you can contact the relevant society or faculty office:

• in England & Wales:
  • the list of solicitors  is maintained by the Law Society of England & Wales 
  • the list of notaries public  is maintained by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury 
• in Scotland, the list of solicitors  is maintained by the Law Society of Scotland 
  (Note that in Scotland there is no published list of notaries public, but almost all solicitors can act as a notary.)
• in Northern Ireland, the list of solicitors  and the list of notaries public  are both maintained by the Law Society of Northern Ireland 

Will HM Passport Office accept my deed poll?

Yes, your deed poll will be accepted by HM Passport Office.  However, note that your passport application will be rejected if:

• you are changing your child’s name, and you have not supplied written consent from everyone with parental responsibility
• you choose an unacceptable name (according to the policy of HM Passport Office)

Note that if you live in Jersey, the Jersey Passport Office requires deed polls to be witnessed by a solicitor or notary public.

If you are a British national living abroad, or you are a foreign national, you should read our advice on nationality restrictions.

Can I use my deed poll abroad?

Yes, it’s possible (and sometimes necessary) to use your deed poll as proof of your change of name outside the U.K., but you’ll probably need to have it witnessed by a solicitor.  You may also need to have it legalised (which means having an apostille attached to it).  Whether or not you need to have this done is a question for the organisation or authority that you want to show the deed poll to.

However, you can’t use your deed poll as an international identity document — a deed poll is not proof of identity.  When you go through border control, you need to have a valid passport in your current name.  In fact it’s important that all your tickets, visas, travel insurance, and so on are all in the same name as what’s in your passport — or else you may have difficulties being allowed through border control and customs.

Do I need to take my deed poll when I go abroad?

No, not unless you have a specific need to prove a change of name that happened in the past, e.g. if you want to get married outside the U.K.

Otherwise, you just need to make sure you have a valid passport in your current name, and that all your tickets, visas, travel insurance, etc. are all in the same name as what’s in your passport.

I don’t hold a current U.K. passport — do I need to order a new passport in my new name?

No, there is no obligation to hold a U.K. passport.  However, it is a very effective identity document, because HM Passport Office are known for carrying out very stringent checks on your identity, and (for child applications) whether you have obtained consent from everyone with parental responsibility.

Will my new passport mention my old name?

No, not normally.  However, there are some limited circumstances in which they will record both your current name, and your previous name:

• if you are a married woman, and you continue to use your maiden name professionally (in which case your maiden name will be shown as an observation)
• if you change your name to a phrase or saying not normally considered to be a name (in which case your current name will be shown as an observation)
• if you change your surname to include a presumed post-nominal title, such as OBE or VC (in which case your current name will be shown as an observation)

Can you prepare a “family” deed poll?

No.  By family deed poll we take to mean a single deed poll changing the surname of a whole family.  We do not think family deed polls are a good idea because eventually — when children grow up and become adults — they need their own deed poll document whenever they need to prove their identity.

However there are reduced rates for family members who apply at the same time.  The reduction on additional adult deed polls (when applying online) is from £ 18.00 to £ 9.00.  The reduction on additional child deed polls is from £ 18.00 to £ 6.00.  The reduction is calculated so as to give the lowest possible combined price.

Can I change my name if I am an undischarged bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order?

Yes, you can change your name by deed poll. However:

• you must notify your Offical Receiver (and trustee, if applicable). Your Official Receiver will update the Individual Insolvency Register.
• if you do business (directly or indirectly) in your new name you must tell everyone you do business with the name in which you were made bankrupt. It is a criminal offence not to do so, punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a fine.

Once you are discharged from bankruptcy, or your Debt Relief Order is lifted, you are no longer subject to these restrictions, and you can change your name in the normal way.

Can I change my name if there are criminal proceedings against me?

Yes, you can change your name by deed poll, but you must tell the police about your change of name.

Can I change my name if I have a criminal record?

Yes, you can change your name by deed poll — having a criminal record does not prevent you in any way. However there are cases where you must tell certain bodies about your change of name:

Can I change my name by deed poll if I was born in Scotland?

Yes, a deed poll is a valid way to change your name in Scotland — as much as it is in England & Wales, and it will be accepted by all organisations and government bodies.

There are some differences in Scottish law about parental responsibility that apply to children who were born in Scotland, and to some extent to children who live in Scotland.  There are also differences between other regions of the U.K., and you should the read the section on how to change your child’s name for complete information.

People who were born in Scotland also have the option to change their name on their birth certificate.  There are some limitations to this service, and there are both advantages and disadvantages to changing your name in this way.  Note that it does not affect your right to change your name by deed poll instead, and many people choose to change their name by deed poll anyway.

Can I change my name by deed poll if I am a British national living abroad?

Yes, but you should think carefully about how you will change your passport.  Your passport, travel bookings and tickets must always be in the same name — otherwise you may be denied entry into a country or refused passage by an airline.  There is more information in the section for British nationals who live abroad.

Can I change my name by deed poll if I am not British, but I live in the U.K.?

Maybe.

If you are a foreign national living in the U.K., you should check with your local Embassy in the U.K. to see if your country of origin will accept a deed poll.

If you are an immigrant to the U.K. and you don’t want to retain your existing nationality, then the U.K. Border Agency will accept your deed poll.

Can I change the name on my birth certificate?

If your birth was registered in England or Wales, there are some limited circumstances when your birth certificate can be changed.  However, generally speaking a birth registration is considered a matter of fact — that is, it was correct at the time it was made — and it cannot be changed.

If your birth was registered in Scotland you do have the option to change your name on your birth certificate.  There are some limitations to this service, and there are both advantages and disadvantages to changing your name in this way.  However, it does not affect your right to change your name by deed poll instead, and many people choose to change their name by deed poll anyway.

Can I change the name on other certificates or legal documents?

No, a certificate is generally considered a matter of fact — that is, it was correct at the time it was issued — and it cannot normally be changed.  If you need to show evidence of a qualification or award and your certificate is in your old name, you should present it with your deed poll or some other evidence of your previous name (for example, your old passport).

Do I need a deed poll to revert to my birth name?

Yes, if you have changed your name in the past, and you want to revert to the original name on your birth certificate, you will need a deed poll to prove it. Your current legal name is not the name on your birth certificate, and if you want to revert to your old name you need documentary evidence of the fact that you have changed it back — the birth certificate itself is not enough.

What order should I tell organisations about my name? — Who should I tell first?

It depends — there is no legal obligation to tell any organisation before or after any other, so you should do it in the order which best suits your situation.

In general, if you already hold a valid U.K. passport, there is an advantage in renewing your passport first, because you can also use the passport as evidence of your name change.

Some organisations — notably the General Medical Council (if you are a doctor listed on the Medical Register), and some financial institutions — insist on seeing your updated passport in your new name, or other additional documentary evidence in your new name, before they change their own records.  The General Medical Council insist on seeing both your old and new passports.

The DVLA can check your identity directly with HM Passport Office (if you give permission), which means that if you update your passport first, you don’t have to send your deed poll or your passport to have your driving licence updated.

If you are changing your child’s name, a passport in the child’s new name is also evidence that you have obtained consent from everyone with parental responsibility, because HM Passport Office will have carried out the necessary checks that this is the case.

However, there are some cases where you will need to update other documents before your passport, because HM Passport Office (or the Foreign Office, if you live abroad) will require additional documentary evidence in your new name.  This is the case if:

• HM Passport Office considers your new name to be unusual or made for a frivolous purpose
• you are transgender / transsexual and you want to update the gender in your passport, and you are unable to provide medical evidence confirming that the orientation to your changed gender is likely to be permanent
• you are a British national living abroad and you want to update your passport whilst you are abroad

Do I have to tell everyone about my new name?

Yes, a deed poll should be used for changing your name for all purposes.  You must tell all official record holders, everyone you do business with, and anyone you have a duty or obligation to.  If official record holders — such as HM Passport Office — have reason to believe that you are not changing your name for all purposes, they will not accept your deed poll.

However, it is acceptable to carry on using your previous name in a specific context (at work, for example) provided you make it clear, where necessary, that your legal name is something else (and provided of course that it’s not for a fraudulent purpose).  It’s a common practice for married women to keep using their maiden name professionally so they don’t affect the reputation they have built up in that name.  Other examples are entertainers who use a stage name, or authors who use a pen name.

It is also acceptable not to tell someone of your name if you believe that person will harm or harass you in some way — for example, if you are a victim of bullying or domestic violence.  However, you cannot do this in a way so that you gain financially from that person, or to avoid an obligation you owe to that person, as you would then be committing fraud.

Do I have to update my passport in my new name?

No — there is no legal requirement to renew your passport if you change your name.  Your passport will remain a valid document, and you can still travel with it.  However, if you do decide to travel abroad with your passport (in your former name) then you should take care that all your travel documents (passport, visas, tickets, hotel bookings, etc.) are in the same name, otherwise you may be denied entry onto your aeroplane or through border control.

When you renew your passport, HM Passport Office will issue you a new 10-year passport (5 years for a child).  They won’t “carry over” any remaining time left on your old passport to your new passport.  (They stopped doing this in 2018.)

Bear in mind that you’ll need to have at least 6 months time left on your passport to go to some countries, although you only need 3 months time left if you’re going to an EU country.

Do I have to update my driving licence in my new name?

Yes — by law, you have to keep your driving licence up to date, and you must tell the DVLA about any change in your name or address.  Failure to do so could leave you with a £ 1000 fine.

Will I have to tell people that I have been known by another name in the past?

Yes, sometimes you’ll have to tell people about your former name.

In general, if you deceive someone by hiding your former name, and you stand to gain something from them by doing so (or they may be damaged in some way), you may be committing fraud.

There are three common cases when you must disclose your former name:

• if you want to apply for credit, you’ll have to supply details of any previous names you have been known by in the last 6 years
• if you are required to apply for a DBS check (formerly a CRB check), you’ll have to give every name you have been known by since birth.  Knowingly making a false declaration about your previous names for a DBS check is a criminal offence under the Police Act.
• if you are an undischarged bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order, then you must tell everyone you do business with (directly or indirectly) the name in which you were made bankrupt

The police can ask you for your current name (and address) in certain situations, for example if they arrest you — and you must tell them the truth.  You don’t have to tell the police about your former name — you have a right to remain silent (but you should get legal advice about whether to use that right or not — it may not be in your best interests).

If you are not hiding your name for a fraudulent purpose, however, there is no obligation to tell people about your former name.

Note that if you are asked about your former name and you lie — for example, you say that you have never changed your name — then you may be committing fraud.  If you don’t want to reveal your former name then you should simply refuse to answer the question.

Can my employer (or potential employer) ask me about my former name?

Yes, probably.  In general, your employer is allowed to ask you about anything which may affect your ability to do your job.  They would be entitled to know your former name, for example, to —

• complete reference checks
• verify your past employment history
• verify your your education
• verify any professional qualifications that you have

You don’t have to answer if an employer asks you about your former name, provided there is no fraudulent reason for hiding it.  However, you mustn’t lie about it — making a false statement to get (or keep) a job would be fraudulent.  If you don’t want to answer the question you should simply write “not applicable” or politely refuse to answer the question.  You could also explain that you think the question is inappropriate because it doesn’t have any bearing on your ability to do the job.  However, if a potential employer has a legitimate reason to ask you (e.g. to complete reference checks) then it may result in you not getting the job you want.

There is an important exception to this advice: if your job involves working with children or other vulnerable people, you’ll normally have to complete a DBS check (formerly a CRB check), in which case you’ll have to give every name you have been known by since birth.

Can I change my name to stop someone finding me?

Yes, provided it is not for a fraudulent purpose — so for example you cannot change your name to get out of paying a debt or to avoid fulfilling an obligation.  But, if you are a victim of domestic violence, for example, it is perfectly acceptable to change your name to avoid someone harming or harassing you.

I have applied for a DBS check (formerly called a CRB check) in the past.  Do I need to inform the Disclosure and Barring Service about my name change?

No — you don't need to inform the Disclosure and Barring Service if you change your name, even if you've applied for a DBS check in the past (formerly called a CRB check).  However if you need to apply for another DBS check after changing your name, then at that point you’ll have to provide details of any changes of name.

Is it legal to be known by more than one name?

Yes, provided it is not for a fraudulent purpose.  In fact, it is quite a common practice — people frequently use a different name in a professional context, such as entertainers who use a stage name, or authors who use a pen name.  Another common situation is when a married woman chooses to keep her maiden name for professional use, but change to her husband’s name for all other purposes.

I am a sole trader trading in my own name.  If I change my name, can I carry on trading in my old name?

Yes, provided it is not for a fraudulent purpose, it is a common practice to do business in a trading name — for example, if a sole trader called John Smith changed his name to Tom Brown, legally the business would become Tom Brown trading as John Smith.

You should make it clear to anyone you do business with what your official name is, or your actions could be construed as fraudulent.  A simple footnote on official correspondence stating the proprietor is Tom Brown is normally sufficient.

Can I call myself after a celebrity?

Yes — by itself it is perfectly legitimate to assume the name of someone else, whether famous or not.  But you should bear in mind that:

• if you pass yourself off as another person in order to deceive someone for a financial gain, or to damage them in some way, you would be committing fraud
• if your new name is trademarked, and you sell a product or service similar to the person (or company) that owns the trademark, you will be in breach of the trademark

Note that fraud is a crime, and thus it is much more serious than a breach of trademark.

Can I call myself after a trademark?

Technically, yes — you can.  Changing your name to a trademark such as Tesco is not itself a breach of the trademark, and it is not illegal.  However, if you use the name for commercial gain by selling a product or service similar to the trademark holder then you will breach the trademark.

Note that if you apply for a passport, HM Passport Office will require that you obtain written consent from the trademark holder, or else they will not accept the change of name.  However, if the name is also recognised as a normal name, for example Paul Smith or John Lewis, then this rule does not apply — you do not need any consent from the trademark holder.

For more information see the section about trademarked names.

Can I call myself with a phrase or saying?

Yes, there is no law restricting you from calling yourself a phrase or saying that is not normally considered a name, such as Happy Birthday, or See You Later.  However, if you apply for a passport, HM Passport Office will reject your application unless you can prove you intend to use the name for all purposes, by providing additional documentary evidence.  See the section on unusual or frivolous name changes for more details.

Can I call myself with a political statement?

Maybe.  You should be aware that:

• it is illegal to change your name to anything that promotes racial or religious hatred, derides minority groups, or promotes the use of drugs.  We will refuse any application of this kind.
• if your name is vulgar, offensive, or blasphemous, you will not be able to renew your passport in your new name — HM Passport Office will refuse your application
• if you apply for a passport, HM Passport Office will treat your name as a phrase not normally considered to be a name, and they will reject your application unless you can prove you intend to use the name for all purposes, by providing additional documentary evidence.  See the section on unusual or frivolous name changes for more details.
• we reserve the right to refuse any child application, if we believe the name is demeaning to the child concerned

Can I call myself something vulgar or offensive?

Not really.  It may not be illegal to call yourself something vulgar or offensive, but if you apply for a passport, HM Passport Office will reject your application.  Other record holders are likely do the same.  If you cannot have all your documents updated in your new name, then effectively you have not changed your name — your name is legally established by usage.  For more information, see the section on vulgar, offensive, or blasphemous names.

Note that it is illegal to change your name to anything that promotes racial or religious hatred, derides minority groups, or promotes the use of drugs.  We will refuse any application of this kind.

Can I use a single name?

Yes, there is no law preventing you from being known by a single name, or mononym — that is, a first name only, with no surname — and HM Passport Office should accept such a name.  For more details, see the section on single names.

Can I change my name for a bet?

Yes, you can have any reason you like to change your name (so long as it is not fraudulent).  However, a deed poll should be used for changing your name for all purposes.  If official record holders — such as HM Passport Office — have reason to believe that you are not changing your name for all purposes, they will not accept your deed poll unless you provide additional documentary evidence that shows otherwise.  See the section on unusual or frivolous name changes for more details.

Note that HM Passport Office also watches for “linked applications” — where a group of people have changed their name at the same time for a bet (or another frivolous pupose).

Can I prepare my own deed poll?

There is no law which states that a deed poll must be drawn up by a solicitor, in the same way that it’s possible to draw up certain other legal documents on your own, such as wills.  We justify our fee with the quality of the service we provide and the care we take over it, and not by misleading you to believe that you don’t have a choice.

Drawing up your own deed poll is like baking your own bread — if you have the time and the motivation to do it yourself, it may well be a more satisfying and enjoyable experience for you.  It will cost you less money, but it will also take up more of your time.  If you want to go down the path of researching what you have to do and understanding how the process works, we encourage you to do it.  You may even like to make use of our free deed poll service  to help you draw up your document.

Paying to have us prepare your deed poll for you is like buying your bread from a good bakery — you have to pay, but it won’t take up any of your time, and you’ll have the confidence that it’s done properly.  People are less likely to doubt whether it has been drawn up correctly, because they will have the confidence of knowing that it’s been done by a reputable company.

You should bear in mind that few people understand what a deed poll is, and even fewer (even within official bodies) understand whether it has been drawn up and signed (“executed”) in the right way.  We are prepared if necessary to guarantee and to justify that any deed poll we have issued has been drawn up correctly and according to the law.  If any record holder is in any doubt about your deed poll, we will help you, and you are free to refer them to us — this is part of our service.

Our service also includes advising you on any particular conditions that will apply to your situation — for example, whether or not your deed poll needs to be witnessed by a solicitor, who you need to advise about your change of name (and in what order), and (in the case of children) who needs to give their consent to the change of name.

Can I search your records for genealogical purposes?

No, the deed polls we issue are private documents, and they are not available for public inspection.  In fact, we do not keep permanent records of the personal data on the deed polls we issue.  (For further information about how we store personal data, see our privacy policy.)

If you are searching for historical evidence of a change of name, there are several sources where you can look for records, but note that you may simply find that no record exists.  There has never been a legal obligation to register a change of name with any official body, and although it is possible to enrol a deed poll with the Senior Courts of England & Wales, very few deed polls are registered in this way.

For further details of sources where you can search for other forms of evidence, have a look at our guide to researching changes of name.