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?
Answers to other FAQs

Changing your name by Deed Poll
How to apply
Services available and fees

Services for previous clients
Apply for a copy of your archived Deed Poll
Apply for a replacement Deed Poll

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
Changing your name on your passport
Who to advise after changing your name

UK Deed Poll Service
Contact us
What our clients say about us
What the media says about us
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions and your rights
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Your age, nationality and country of residence determine whether you can apply for a Deed Poll to change your name.

Age
To change your 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 for further information about parental responsibility and consent requirements.

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, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey.

• If you live in the United Kingdom
  There are no restrictions to changing your name by Deed Poll.  Therefore, you can apply for a Deed Poll now by clicking on this link.
  
  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. 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 Irish Embassy and Pakistan High Commission require their nationals to have the signing of their Deed Poll witnessed by a solicitor, while the Danish Embassy requires its nationals to have their Deed Poll legalised [What is legalisation].  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 and Immigration 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. If you are an asylum seeker or refugee:

• If you live in the United Kingdom
  You can apply for a Deed Poll now by clicking on this link.  Please enter your immigration status as your nationality on the application form. The UK Border and Immigration Agency will accept your Deed Poll as evidence of your name change.
   

Last updated: 4 February 2008