Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled a list of common questions and answers below. If you cannot find the answer to your name change query then you are very welcome to call us for free and confidential advice on: 0203 318 0245 (Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm).
- How do I change my name or my child's name?
- Can I change my child's name (child aged 15 years or under)?
- What do I do when I receive my Deed Poll?
- What do I do with my Deed Poll once I have signed (executed) it?
- Will it be accepted by the Passport Office (IPS)?
- Do I need a Solicitor to sign or witness my Deed Poll?
- I've lost my Deed Poll can I get a copy?
- What payment methods do you accept?
- How long will my Deed Poll take to arrive?
- Are there any additional costs?
- Can I read any reviews of your service?
- Why do I need extra copies?
- What is a certified copy?
- I have a question that is not in this list?
- What is included in the fee?
- Is there a discount for families/multiple names changes?
- Can you oversee the whole process for me, including updating my records?
- Does a Deed Poll need to be printed on 'watermark' or 'security' paper?
- Does a Deed Poll need to be 'legally sealed'?
- Will my Deed Poll be prepared by a legal professional?
- Is there an 'official' Deed Poll website?
- What is the cost of your service?
- What is a Deed Poll?
- Is my name changed automatically?
Q1. How do I change my name or my child's name?
You can quickly and easily change your name (or your child's name) by Deed Poll:
Step 1 - Order:
- Please go to the Order Now page and click either the Adult Order Form or Child Order Form link.
- Enter the required information and select how many copies you require.
- Add additional orders or enter your contact/delivery details during the checkout stage.
- Make a secure payment by credit/debit card online, call us with your card details or send a cheque in the post.
Step 2 - Execute:
Once prepared by ourselves your Deed Poll will be sent by First Class post. When it arrives it must be signed by yourself in the presence of a witness (this is known as 'executing' your Deed Poll). A child Deed Poll must be signed by someone who has parental responsibility for the child concerned i.e. the mother or father.
Step 3 - Notify:
Send notification of your new name to any company, organisation or Government Department that currently hold your old name on their records. This means they simply need to see your signed (executed) Deed Poll, and upon doing so they will update their records.
It's very straightforward and we provide comprehensive instructions with your Deed Poll and free, confidential advice should you need it.
We recommend that you order extra original copies because this will be speed up the process of notification as you can contact multiple companies/organisations at the same time.
Please note you DO NOT need to visit a solicitor. If you have a query please call us on 0203 318 0245.
Q2. Can I change my child's name (child aged 15 years or under)?
Yes, providing you have permission from all persons with parental responsibility for the said child, i.e. the mother and or father. If both parents have parental responsibility for the child, but permission cannot be obtained from one of them i.e. because they refuse to consent, or because their whereabouts are unknown, then you have several options open to you, including obtaining a court order to allow the name change to proceed. Click here to learn about your options, or see our Services & Fees page for ways in which we can assist you.
In the UK the mother acquires parental responsibility at the child's birth, the law relating to the father's rights vary throughout the UK, please see below:
England and Wales:
The father has parental responsibility if he was married to the mother at the time of the child's birth, or subsequently marries her afterwards. An un-married father will not have parental responsibility unless he is named on the birth certificate from 1st December 2003 onwards.
Northern Ireland:
The father has parental responsibility if he was married to the mother at the time of the child's birth, but not if he subsequently marries her afterwards. An un-married father will not have parental responsibility unless he is named on the birth certificate from 15th April 2002 onwards.
Scotland:
The father has parental responsibility if he was married to the mother at the time of the child's birth, or subsequently marries her afterwards. An un-married father will not have parental responsibility unless he is named on the birth certificate from 4th May 2006 onwards.
If you are still unsure then please click here to view our helpful 'Parental Responsibility Flowcharts', or call
us on 0203 318 0245.
Q3. What do I do when I receive my Deed Poll?
You need to sign your Deed Poll, once for your old name, and once for your new name. You need to date your Deed Poll on the last paragraph, and have your signature witnessed by a person over the age of 18. (This is known as 'executing' your Deed Poll).
A child Deed Poll must be signed by either the mother or father.
The witness must be over 18 and should not be related to the person named on the Deed Poll or live at the same address. Please note the witness DOES NOT need to be a professional i.e. a Solicitor or Doctor. Typically, clients use a friend, neighbour or work colleague as their witness.
Q4. What do I do with my Deed Poll once I have signed (executed) it?
You must start using your new name straight away, and you must contact any company or organisation that has your old name record to let them know of your new name.
Q5. Will it be accepted by the Passport Office (IPS)?
Yes, absolutely, it will be universally accepted by all UK companies, Government Departments and organisations, including the Identity and Passport Service (formerly the Passport Office).
This is because a Deed Poll from us will be prepared pursuant to all current common law and statute requirements.
Our company is also Trading Standards Approved so you can be assured that we operate in a legal, honest and fair way.
Q6. Do I need a Solicitor to sign or witness my Deed Poll?
No, you will not need to visit a Solicitor.
Q7. I've lost my Deed Poll can I get a copy?
A.) If your Deed Poll was from us then all we need is the eight digit serial number printed on the bottom of your Deed Poll. Extra copies are £5 each including P&P for the first copy and £1 for each extra copy after that. I.e. one copy = £5, two copies = £6, 3 copies = £7 etc. Please contact us to order extra copies.
B.) If your Deed Poll was from another company or a Solicitor then the standard practice is to recreate the original Deed Poll, but with a special amendment to state that you have been using the 'new name' since a certain month/year.
Please note, that a Deed Poll is not stored on any kind of central record, nor is information shared between companies.
Q8. What payment methods do you accept?
We accept payment by credit/debit card to include Maestro, Solo, Visa, Mastercard and Visa Debit. You can call us with your card details if you prefer not to pay over the Internet.
All card payments are securely processed by PayPoint, the UK's leading payment processing company.
You can also send a cheque or postal order made payable to: 'The UK Deed Poll Office' to the address on our contact page.
Q9. How long will my Deed Poll take to arrive?
Your order will be sent using First Class post in a plain, protective A4/C4 envelope (same day dispatch for orders received before 4pm weekdays). Postage and packaging is included in the prices displayed on this website.
Q10. Are there any additional costs?
No, the prices shown on our website show the total cost including P&P.
Q11. Can I read any reviews of your service?
Yes, certainly, please click here to read what some of our latest clients have to say about the service we provide.
Q12. Why do I need extra copies?
Ordering more than one copy will allow you to notify multiple companies/organisations at the same time. It also means that you will have spares in case one should become lost or damaged. Please note the extra copies are high quality originals and not photocopies. You will need to sign, witness and date each copy that your order.
Q13. What is a certified copy?
A certified copy is where you return your signed Deed Poll to us and we produce photocopies which are marked as 'a true copy of the original'. However, because you can order extra original copies to begin with, there is no need to do this when using our service.
Q14. I have a question that is not in this list?
If you have not found the answer to your question in this section then please see our comprehensive Knowledge Base or do not hesitate to contact us on 0203 318 0245. You can also speak to us via live chat and email during office hours.
Q15. What is included in the fee?
You will receive: your stamped legal UK Deed Poll document printed on high quality paper (plus any extra legal copies), clear instructions detailing how to sign your Deed Poll, covering letter template, list of common places to notify, and secure digital archiving.
Plus our free downloadable guide to informing Government Departments and other organisations that you have changed your name (includes contact/address details for most major organisations).
Same day dispatch (orders received before 4pm weekdays).
Additional legal copies are £1 each and include an additional free printed copy of our covering letter for your convenience.
Q16. Is there a discount for families/multiple names changes?
If you are changing the names of five or more people (i.e. family members) we may be able to arrange a discount, please contact us for more information.
Q17. Can you oversee the whole process, including updating my records?
We understand that although we make the process very easy, some people would simply prefer to save time and have an expert oversee their name change, including updating their records. We will ensure that all the applicable forms for your new Passport, Driving Licence etc are correctly completed. These, along with original duplicates of your Deed Poll and prefilled covering letters will be sent to you by Special Delivery. You simply sign and return all of the enclosed documentation, which we then send out on your behalf to the departments and companies concerned. Please see our Services & Fees page for more information.
Q18. Does a Deed Poll need to be printed on 'watermark' or 'security' paper?
No, the law requires that a Deed Poll is in writing but it does not specify that any particular type of paper is used. We currently use A4 100gsm cream paper that has a smooth satin finish to ensures a crisp presentation of printed text, and lasting durability.
Q19. Does a Deed Poll need to be 'legally sealed'?
No, the requirement was abolished by an Act of Parliament in 1989. Therefore, for the last 22 years a seal of any kind has not been required. However, as a professional finishing touch, a Deed Poll from us will be stamped with our company seal, bearing our lion crest logo and company name.
Interesting fact: the outdated requirement of sealing a Deed Poll actually related to the individuals own seal, i.e. a stamp bearing their name or initials. It was never the case that a Deed Poll was required to have a seal showing the name of the company or individual that prepared it.
Q20. Will my Deed Poll be prepared by a legal professional?
Yes, your Deed Poll will be prepared by a Certified Paralegal who is a full member of the Institute of Paralegals (IOP).
Certified membership status of the IOP (the only Paralegal body to be granted Institute status by the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry), is professional recognition of our extensive experience in our field of law.
Q21. Is there an 'official' Deed Poll website?
No, there isn't an official website. All of the websites that provide a 'Deed Poll Service' are operated by privately owned, commercial legal services companies, or individuals. Unfortunately this isn't always made entirely clear by some of our competitors, but we prefer to just be upfront and honest about exactly who we are, rather than use various marketing ploys to potentially create a false impression. We trust that you will value our approach.
Don't forget, our company is Trading Standards Approved so you can be assured that we operate in a legal, honest and fair way. In fact, we are currently the only Deed Poll Service on Google to have this approval.
Please keep this in mind when choosing which company you would like to use and how much you wish to pay. Click here to read the top five 'Name Change Myths'.
Q22. What is the cost of your service?
The total cost for an adult Deed Poll is £15 inc P&P. The total cost for a child Deed Poll is £15 including P&P. Extra legal copies are £1 each.
Click here to see what is included.
Q23. What is a Deed Poll?
A Deed Poll, also known as a 'Deed of Change of Name', is simply a single A4 page legal agreement (form of contract) that states your intention to abandon the use of your old name and only use your chosen new name at all times. Once signed, you can use your Deed Poll document to change your name on your driving licence, Passport, bank account etc.
Please note: 'Deed Poll' is not an automated service, a Government organisation or a certificate.
Q24. Is my name changed automatically?
No, a 'Deed Poll' is a legal document, it is not an automated service. Once you have received and signed your Deed Poll you must manually inform all companies and organisations that have your old name record of your new name. You do this by allowing them to view your Deed Poll, either in person or by post.
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