Information and advice about changing your name by Deed Poll
Back Letter 4
Joint parental responsibility where the father is absent and his whereabouts in not known

The following letter is an example of what we require from a mother who has joint parental responsibility with the father but the father's consent cannot be obtained because he is absent and his whereabouts is not known. The example letter below contains the minimum amount of information we require and it includes details about the steps taken to contact the absent father.  This letter cannot be too long and it must be personalised with your circumstances.

If you are changing more than one child's name, please provide a separate letter for each child.

If you haven't already done so, you are advised to read section 5 of our article about changing children's names before you submit your application. Click here (opens new window) to see the article.

Our fax and postal address details can be found at the bottom of this page.

If you have Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2002, 2003 or 2007 on your computer, you can download an interactive Word template that will make it easy to produce your letter of consent.  Look out for this download icon at the bottom of the letter template Look out for this icon to download an interactive Word document for your letter of consent.  If you do not have Word, please copy and paste the template text into your word processor.

Letter 4 template

[Your home address]

[Your daytime telephone number]

[Date]

To whom it may concern.

Dear Sirs,

I, the undersigned, having parental responsibility for [insert child's current full name here] consent to [his/her] name being changed to [insert new full name here].

I am unable to obtain the father's consent because for the last four years I have not known his whereabouts.  I have written to the father's last known address but I have not had a reply.  I have also contacted several relatives but they do not know his whereabouts either.  The Child Support Agency have also been unable to locate him.

Since the father left us in July 1998, he has had very little contact with us.  I understand he moved away from the area in 2002 and since then we have had no contact whatsoever.  He pays no maintenance and does not even send his child birthday or Christmas cards.

My child is now old enough to understand the situation and is very distressed at having to use the name of someone who has, for many years, shown no interest in [him/her] whatsoever.

Note: This last paragraph is only suitable if your child is old enough to understand the situation (age 6 or 7 upwards) and is upset with having to use the father's surname.

Yours faithfully,

[Signature]

[Your full name]
Mother


Click to download an interactive Word document for this letter.Click on the icon to download an interactive Word document for this letter.
 Click on the Open button if you see a File Download window.



Fully completed example of Letter 4

Example of letter 4, for joint parental responsibility, where the father is absent and his whereabouts is not known.



Where to fax or post your letter of consent

You can fax your letter of consent to 0333 444 8486 (+44 333 444 8486 from overseas) or post it to either of the addresses below.  If you are paying by cheque or postal order, or claiming a fee reduction for receiving a qualifying benefit, we suggest you do not fax your letter but enclose it with your payment and/or benefit evidence.

 Freepost address
(if posting in the UK)

Using our Freepost address costs nothing but it takes about 3 working days to reach us. If you want your letter to arrive sooner, or if you are overseas, use the address below




Full postal address
Use this address if you want your letter to arrive sooner or if you are posting from overseas. Don't forget to affix the correct postage

  Write FREEPOST DEED POLLS on the envelope:
Write FREEPOST DEED POLLS on the envelope.

UK Deed Poll Service, Freebournes Court, Witham, CM8 2BL. Don't forget to affix the correct postage.

Last updated: 8 January 2008



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