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| Information and advice about changing your name by Deed Poll |
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About Deed Polls Changing your
name by Deed Poll Services for
previous clients General name
change information UK Deed Poll
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General name change
information Introduction Any person living in the United Kingdom aged 16 years and over can change their name to any name they choose simply by using their new name. This is known as changing your name by usage. With few exceptions, you can have whatever name you choose so long as you are not changing your name for fraudulent purposes or to avoid an obligation or debt. Furthermore, there are no restrictions on how often you can change your name. However, if you change your name by usage, you will encounter difficulties when trying to get certain official documents and records changed since government departments such as the Passport Office and DVLA - and many other companies and organisations, particularly financial institutions such as banks - will ask you for "documentary evidence" of your change of name. Documentary evidence is a term used to describe a document that will be accepted to effect a change of name. Such documents are:
To change your name for any other reason than above, you need a document that provides evidence that you have changed your name. A Deed Poll is such a document and it will ensure you get all your official documents and records changed to your new name, including your passport and driving licence, without question. It should be noted that there are certain documents that you can never get changed because they are historical records of what happened at a particular point in time. These are: a birth certificate (see Can a birth certificate be changed for exceptions), an adoptive birth certificate, a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate and a decree absolute certificate. Also, it is very unlikely that you will be able to get documents such as educational certificates etc changed. Last updated: 1 January 2006
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Introduction