About Deed Polls
What is a Deed Poll?
Why is it called a Deed Poll?
What is the purpose of a Deed Poll?
Who can apply for a Deed Poll?
Can I change my children's names?
Are there any restrictions on names?
Is a Deed Poll registered anywhere?
Can a birth certificate be changed?
Why do people change their name?
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Applying for a Deed Poll
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General name change information
Introduction
A woman's rights upon marriage
A man's rights upon marriage
A couple's rights upon a civil partnership
A woman's rights upon separation
A woman's rights upon divorce
A woman's rights upon being widowed
A child's rights upon adoption
Adding a middle name
Advice for transsexuals
More than a change of name...
Changing your name on your passport
Obtaining a copy of your lost Deed Poll
Who to advise after changing your name

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Your age, nationality and country of residence are the key factors that determine whether you can apply for a Deed Poll to change your name.  This article also includes information for asylum seekers, refugees, undischarged bankrupts, people with criminal records and people detained under the Mental Health Act.

1.  Age requirement
To change your own name by Deed Poll you must be at least 16 years of age.  To change the name of a child who is under 16 years of age, someone with parental responsibility can apply so long as everyone with parental responsibility for the child consents to the name change.  Please read our page Can I change my children's names (opens new window) for further information about parental responsibility and the consent requirements.

2.  Nationality and country of residence
Please read the section below that applies to you.  Please note, United Kingdom means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.

2.1  If you are British:

• If you live in the United Kingdom
  There are no restrictions to changing your name by Deed Poll.  However, before you apply, please read sections 4, 5 and 6 below.
  
  Please note, if you live in the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Jersey Passport Office will require the signing of your Deed Poll to be witnessed by a local solicitor or notary public. Alternatively, you can apply for your passport to any of the seven UK mainland passport offices (or online), who will accept your Deed Poll without the need for it to be witnessed by a solicitor or notary public.
  
  
• If you live outside the United Kingdom
  You can apply for a Deed Poll but before you submit your application, we advise you to contact your local British mission (i.e. the consular services section at your nearest British Embassy or High Commission) to ensure there are no special requirements that must be met before they will issue you with a new British passport. For example, the British Embassy in Tokyo requires British nationals to have the signing of their Deed Poll witnessed by a solicitor.

2.2  If you are a foreign national:

• If you live in the United Kingdom
  You can apply for a Deed Poll but before you submit your application, we advise you to check with the consular services section of your country's embassy or high commission in London to see if they will issue you with a passport in your new name using your Deed Poll as documentary evidence of your change of name.  If your Deed Poll will be accepted, there may be special requirements, for example, the Pakistan High Commission requires its nationals to have the signing of their Deed Poll witnessed by a solicitor, while the Danish and Estonian Embassies require their nationals to have their Deed Poll legalised [What is legalisation - opens pop-up window].  If you cannot get your passport changed to your new name, you are advised not to change your name by Deed Poll because it is likely that your Deed Poll will not be accepted by all UK companies and organisations on the grounds that your are not changing your name "for all purposes"
  
  If you are applying for British citizenship, your Deed Poll will be accepted by the UK Border Agency.  Consequently, your naturalisation certificate and British passport will be issued in your new name.
  
  
• If you live outside the United Kingdom
  It is extremely unlikely that a Deed Poll issued by us will be effective changing your name unless you have a specific purpose for the Deed Poll document.  For example, you may be applying for British citizenship and the British Embassy you are dealing with have advised you to apply to us for a Deed Poll so your new British passport is issued in your new name.

3.  Asylum seekers and refugees
If you are an asylum seeker or refugee living in the UK, your Deed Poll will be accepted the UK Border Agency as evidence of your name change.  If you are later granted British citizenship, your naturalisation certificate and British passport will be issued in your new name.  Please note, when you complete your application form, enter your immigration status as your nationality.

4.  Undischarged bankrupts
If you are an undischarged bankrupt, you are free to change your name by Deed Poll.  However, if you are self employed and want to trade in your new name, you must tell all those with whom you do business the name in which you were made bankrupt.  In other words, you are not allowed to carry on the same trade in a different name without telling your customers about your former name.  This condition does not apply once you are discharged from bankruptcy.  You must also notify the Official Receiver dealing with your bankruptcy of your name change.

5.  People with criminal records
Having a criminal record does not prevent you from changing your name by Deed Poll.  However, you must be aware of the following:

• If you have any existing or pending criminal actions against you, you must notify the police station dealing with your case of your name change.
• If you are on probation, you must notify your probation officer of your name change.
• If you are on the Sex Offenders' Register, you must notify the police within 14 days of your name change.  It is a criminal offence not to do so.

6.  People detained under the Mental Health Act
There is no specific provision in the Mental Health Act that prevents a detained person from changing their name.  However, any person who executes a Deed Poll must have mental capacity i.e. they must have sufficient capacity to understand the significance and consequences of changing their name otherwise the Deed Poll can be deemed void and be ignored.  When deciding the capacity of a detained person, clinicians will take into account the following key principles of the Mental Capacity Act:

• A presumption of capacity - every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so unless it is proved otherwise;
• The right for individuals to be supported to make their own decisions - people must be given all appropriate help before anyone concludes that they cannot make their own decisions;
• Individuals must retain the right to make what might be seen as eccentric or unwise decisions.

If you are eligible to apply for a Deed Poll, please click on the How to apply link below.