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A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name.

You can change any part of your name, add or remove names or hyphens, or change the spelling.

Your new name must:

• be pronounceable
• not include symbols, numbers or punctuation (unless it鈥檚 a hyphenated name or part of an established name like O鈥橦ara)
• not be offensive or against the public interest (for example, adding Ltd to the end of the name)

You cannot use a deed poll to:

• change which letters are capitalised in your name
• change titles, for example Mr, Mrs, Sir, Lady or Doctor

Choose a deed poll

If you鈥檙e 16 or over, you can make a deed poll yourself and start using a new name (called an 鈥榰nenrolled deed poll鈥�). If you鈥檙e 18 or over, you can apply to put your name change on public record through the High Court (called an 鈥榚nrolled deed poll鈥�).听

An enrolled deed poll costs 拢50.32.

Some organisations (such as some banks, mobile phone companies or energy providers) may only accept an enrolled deed poll to change your name on their records. Contact the organisation to understand the deed poll they will accept as proof of your new name.

Choose to:

• make an unenrolled deed poll yourself
• apply for an adult enrolled deed poll
• change a child鈥檚 name by deed poll

Marriage and civil partnership

You do not need a deed poll to take your spouse鈥檚 or civil partner鈥檚 surname. Send a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate to record-holders.

If you divorce or end your civil partnership

You may be able to go back to your original name by showing record-holders either your:

• marriage certificate and decree absolute
• civil partnership certificate and final order

Some organisations will not change your name back without a deed poll.

If you鈥檙e a registered offender

You must tell the police you鈥檝e changed your name within 3 days if you鈥檙e a registered:

• sex offender
• violent offender
• terrorist offender

You must go to your local prescribed police station to do this. You鈥檒l be told where this is on release.

You need to be 16 or over to make an 鈥榰nenrolled鈥� deed poll.

A specialist agency or a solicitor can make the deed poll for you - they may charge a fee.

How to make your own deed poll

You鈥檒l need 2 witnesses to sign your deed poll. They must be 18 or over.

Some organisations will not accept a deed poll if a witness lives at the same address or is a close relative.

Use the following wording. Replace the words in the square brackets with the relevant details.

Name change deed

鈥淚 [old name] of [your address] have given up my name [old name] and have adopted for all purposes the name [new name].

鈥淲here applicable, I have informed the police that I have given up my name [old name] and have adopted the name [new name] and understand that a failure to do so is a criminal offence.

鈥淚 also understand that when I apply for official documents in my new name, such as a British Passport, the relevant authorities may check the history and validity of my old name [old name] and new name [new name]. They may also check the information in any other supporting documents they have requested.

鈥淪igned as a deed on [date] as [old name] and [new name] in the presence of [witness 1 name] of [witness 1 address], and [witness 2 name] of [witness 2 address].

鈥淸your new signature], [your old signature]

鈥淸witness 1 signature], [witness 2 signature]鈥�

After you鈥檝e made your own deed poll

You can use your signed deed poll straight away as proof of your new name.

You can put your new name on public record by 鈥榚nrolling鈥� it with the High Court.

You can enrol a deed poll online or by post. It costs 拢50.32.

A public record of your name change and your address will be published in . If you have a strong reason why your details should not be published, explain why in your application. The judge may agree to only publish your first name or surname.

You鈥檒l be sent a copy of your Gazette notice by email or post.

Before you apply

You鈥檒l need to provide a copy of one of the following:

• a birth certificate
• a valid passport
• a certificate of naturalisation听

You may also be asked to provide supporting documents such as:

• adoption documents (if you were adopted)
• a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if you鈥檙e married or in a civil partnership)
• the written consent of your husband, wife or partner (if you鈥檙e married or in a civil partnership)
• a consent letter (if the person applying is unable to complete the form on their own behalf because of medical reasons)

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you鈥檒l also need to provide certified translations of them.

If you鈥檙e divorced or widowed听

You鈥檒l also need to provide either:

• a photocopy of your decree absolute or final order听
• your husband, wife or partner鈥檚 death certificate听

Apply online

You鈥檒l need a debit or credit card to use this service. You鈥檒l be told how to pay after submitting your application.

Once you start your online application, you have the option to save it and come back to it later. You must submit your application within 28 days or you鈥檒l have to start again.

What happens next

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will review your application and email you 3 forms: the LOC020, the LOC021 and the LOC027. You need to print and complete each form.听

The LOC020 form needs to be signed in front of 2 witnesses, who will also need to sign the form.听

Post your completed forms to the Deed Poll Office.

Once your application is complete and has been approved, the Deed Poll Office will seal your deed and send it back to you by post. This is proof of your name change.

Apply by post

Download and complete the following forms:

• Form LOC020: Enrol a deed poll with the court to change your name
• Form LOC021: Statutory declaration for changing your name by deed poll
• Form LOC027: Exhibit cover sheet for changing your name by deed poll

Sign the LOC020 form in front of 2 witnesses. Your witnesses will also need to sign it.

Post your forms to the Deed Poll Office.

Pay the fee

To pay by credit or debit card, call the High Court Fees Office.

You can also pay by postal order or cheque (payable to 鈥楬M Courts and Tribunals Service鈥�).

You鈥檒l be given a fee reference number after you鈥檝e paid.

What happens next

Once your application is complete and has been approved, the Deed Poll Office will seal your deed and send it back to you by post. This is proof of your name change.

If you need help or support听

Contact the Deed Poll Office.

To change the name of a child under 18 you can either:

• make an unenrolled deed poll by using a specialist deed poll agency or a solicitor
• enrol a deed poll with the High Court

Some organisations (such as some banks, mobile phone companies or energy providers) may only accept an enrolled deed poll to change a name on their records. Contact the organisation to understand the deed poll they will accept as proof of the new name.

Enrol a deed poll

You can put your child鈥檚 new name on public record by 鈥榚nrolling鈥� it with the High Court.

You can enrol a deed poll online or by post. It costs 拢50.32.

You鈥檒l need either:

• the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility
• a court order听

A public record of your child鈥檚 new name will be published in . If you have a strong reason why your child鈥檚 details should not be published, explain why in your application. The judge may agree to only publish your child鈥檚 first name or surname.

You鈥檒l be sent a copy of the Gazette notice with your child鈥檚 name change by email or post.

Before you apply

You can apply if you鈥檙e the child鈥檚 parent or guardian.

You鈥檒l need to provide a copy of:

• the child鈥檚 full birth certificate
• adoption documents (if they were adopted)

You may also need to provide documents about your marital or relationship status, including:

• a photocopy of your decree absolute or final order (if you鈥檙e divorced)
• your husband, wife or partner鈥檚 death certificate (if you鈥檙e widowed)
• a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if your surname on the child鈥檚 birth certificate is different from your current surname)听
• a letter from your current partner saying they agree to the child鈥檚 name change (if you鈥檙e in a new relationship or marriage)听

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you鈥檒l also need to provide certified translations of them.

Apply online

You鈥檒l need a debit or credit card to use this service. You鈥檒l be told how to pay after submitting your application.

If your child is aged 16 or 17, you must include a letter from them with the application that says that they agree to changing their name. The letter must:

• include their old name and new name听
• be witnessed and signed by someone who is aged 18 years or over and is not related to the child

Once you start your online application, you have the option to save it and come back to it later. You must submit your application within 28 days or you鈥檒l have to start again.

What happens next

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will review your application and email you 4 forms: the LOC022, the LOC023, the LOC024 and the LOC028. You need to print and complete each form.听

The LOC022 form needs to be signed in front of 2 witnesses, who will also need to sign the form.

The LOC023 form needs to be completed by someone with parental responsibility.听

Post your completed forms to the Deed Poll Office.

Once your application is complete and has been approved, the Deed Poll Office will seal your deed and send it back to you by post. This is proof of your name change.

Apply by post

Download and complete the following forms:

• Form LOC022: Enrol a deed poll with the court to change a child鈥檚 name听
• FormLOC023: Affidavit (statement) of best interest for a child deed poll
• Form LOC024: Statutory declaration for changing a child鈥檚 name by deed poll
• Form LOC028: Exhibit cover sheet for changing a child鈥檚 name by deed poll

You need to sign the LOC022 form in front of 2 witnesses. Your witnesses will also need to sign the LOC022 form.

The LOC023 form needs to be completed by someone with parental responsibility.

Post your forms to the Deed Poll Office.

If your child is aged 16 or 17, you must include a letter from them with the application that says that they agree to changing their name. The letter must:

• include their old name and new name听
• be witnessed and signed by someone who is aged 18 years or over and is not related to the child

Pay the fee

To pay by credit or debit card, call the High Court Fees Office.

You can also pay by postal order or cheque (payable to 鈥楬M Courts and Tribunals Service鈥�).

You鈥檒l be given a fee reference number after you鈥檝e paid.

What happens next

Once your application is complete and has been approved, the Deed Poll Office will seal your deed and send it back to you by post. This is proof of your name change.

If you need help or support听

Contact the Deed Poll Office.

If you need a court order

Read the guidance on making an application to the family court.

Fill in form C100 for a 鈥榮pecific issue order鈥�.

Send your form to your nearest court that deals with child cases.

It costs 拢263 to apply for a court order. You may be able to get help with court fees if you鈥檙e on benefits or a low income.