Form

How to change your name by deed poll

Updated 12 September 2024

1. Before you start

Use this guidance to help you complete the forms you need to enrol your new name at the Royal Courts of Justice. This is called ‘changing your name by deed poll’.

Before you read this form guidance, you should first read the main guidance on changing your name by deed poll.

If you want to enrol a change of name for a child, you must use the guidance and forms for changing your child’s name by deed poll. You cannot enrol a change of name yourself if you’re under 18 years old.

If you were born in Scotland, you should follow the rules and guidance for changing your name in Scotland.

What you can and cannot change in your name by deed poll

You can:

• change any part of your name
• add or remove names and hyphens
• change spelling

You cannot:

• change your title – for example, Mr, Mrs, Sir, Lady or Doctor
• change any capitalisations of letters in your name

2. What you will need to change your name by deed poll

You must complete and send us the following deed poll forms:

You must include with the forms evidence that you’re a British, Commonwealth or British dependent territories citizen. This could be a photocopy of your:

• birth certificate
• in date and valid passport
• certificate of naturalisation

You will also need to provide certain documents if you are:

If any of your original documents are not in English or Welsh, you will need to provide a certified translation of the document. A translation is considered ‘certified’ if the translator has included:

• written confirmation on the translation that it is a ‘true and accurate translation of the original document’
• the date of the translation
• their own full name and contact details – not those of their company

For some of the documents you must provide, you will also need to include an exhibit cover sheet.

Finally, you will also need to include your payment for the fees or, alternatively, you can pay by telephone.

Changing your name if you are adopted

If you’re adopted and want to change your name, you must also send us photocopies of your adoption documents.

Changing your name if you are married or in a civil partnership

If you are married or in a civil partnership and wish to change your name, you will need to include your husband, wife or partner’s written consent. You must include a:

• letter from them giving consent – it should include their full name and signature and say that they have no objections to you changing name
• photocopy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate

If you’re unable to get their consent, you should provide an affidavit (a sworn written statement of truth) explaining why.

Changing your name if you are divorced or widowed

If you are divorced or widowed, you will only need a deed poll if you wish to change to a new name.

You do not need a deed poll if you want to return to using a former name (such as a maiden name).

However, you may need to provide evidence you are divorced or widowed, to change your name with your bank, employer or on your passport. This could be:

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

3. The fee to change your name by deed poll

The total fee for changing your name by deed poll is £49.32.

This includes:

• the court enrolment fee – £11
• an advertisement charge – £29.52
• a copy of The Gazette with your name change – £8.80

You can pay the fee by:

• cheque
• postal order
• bankers’ draft
• credit or debit card

To pay by credit or debit card call us on 020 3936 8957 (option 1).

The help with fees scheme is not applicable when applying for a deed poll.

4. Change of name deed for an adult form (LOC020)

You must complete the form with all the details of your new name and your old name throughout the form, including any middle names. This is a legal document, which becomes your deed poll, so therefore must:

• have no crossings out or mistakes
• be printed single-sided

You must declare your relationship status. If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you will need the written permission of your husband, wife or partner if changing your name.

You must take a photocopy of the form to include in your exhibits. We will retain the photocopy for reference and to make copies if you need them. We will return the original deed poll form to you as your copy.

Nationality and the British Nationality Act sections

To change your name by deed poll, you must be a:

• British citizen
• Commonwealth citizen
• British dependent territories citizen

You must include on the form the section of the British Nationality Act 1981 that qualifies you as a citizen.

Section 1 (1)

If you’re a British citizen born on or after 1 January 1983.

Section 11 (1)

If you were born in the UK on or before 31 December 1982 and are:

• a British citizen
• a citizen of a British dependent territory or the Commonwealth born with the right to remain in the UK under the Immigration Act

Section 37 (1)

If you were born in a Commonwealth country.

Witnesses

You must have 2 witnesses present when you sign your deed poll form. The witnesses can have known you for any length of time. The witnesses must:

• sign the form in pen, not a digital signature
• not be related to you by birth or marriage

Your declarant can also be a witness.

5. Deed poll statutory declaration for an adult form (LOC021)

A statutory declaration is a document that must be completed by a person that knows you. They must declare that you are who your application says you are. They are referred to in the declaration form as the ‘declarant’.

The declarant must:

• have known you for 10 years or longer
• be a British or Commonwealth citizen
• have a fixed home address
• live in the UK

If your declarant is not a householder, you must also send us an affidavit (a sworn written statement of truth) explaining this. The judge will then decide if their declaration can be accepted.

The declarant cannot be your:

• husband or wife
• civil partner
• any other relative (by birth or marriage)

If you have not known anyone for 10 years or longer, you must include an affidavit that explains the reasons why. This will be referred to a judge at the Royal Courts of Justice, who will decide if your change of name can be enrolled. If you have known your declarant for less than 10 years, they must still complete the statutory declaration form.

The declarant can also sign your deed poll form (LOC020) as one of the witnesses.

Swearing to the truth of the statutory declaration

Once the declarant has completed the statutory declaration, they must swear that it is true in the presence of a person who is authorised to witness the signing of important legal documents. This could be:

• a solicitor
• a commissioner for oaths
• an officer of the court

If you want an officer of the court to be a witness, you must call the deed poll office to arrange an appointment at the Royal Courts of Justice.

When the declarant swears that the declaration is true, they must do so either by oath on a holy book or by giving an affirmation, which is where a statement of truth is read out.

The solicitor, commissioner for oaths or officer of the court must also print and sign the statutory declaration form.

You will be charged a fee when the declarant makes their oath or affirmation. If the oath or affirmation is made in court, the fee is £14. The fee may be different if the oath or affirmation is being made in the presence of a solicitor or commissioner for oaths.

The statutory declaration must be printed single-sided.

Exhibits to the statutory declaration

An ‘exhibit’ is a document used in court as evidence. The court needs exhibits as proof of who your application says you are.

In the statutory declaration the exhibits are referred to by letters:

• Exhibit A – a photocopy of your deed poll form (LOC020)
• Exhibit B – a photocopy of your evidence that you’re a British, Commonwealth or British dependent territories citizen
• Exhibit C – a photocopy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate (if you are married or in a civil partnership)

Include a cover sheet for each exhibit with the relevant exhibit wording and signed by the same solicitor, commissioner for oaths or officer of the court who witnessed the declarant make their oath or affirmation.

The exhibit sheets must include the following wording:

“This is the exhibit marked ‘A’/‘B’/‘C’ referred to in the declaration of [enter statutory declarant’s name (the person who has known you for 10 or more years)] declared before me [enter name of authorised witness] this [day] day of [month] in the year [year].”

You can print and use the template exhibit cover sheet. Alternatively, you can use a blank piece of paper, as long as it includes the required wording and is signed by the solicitor, commissioner for oaths or officer of the court.

6. Notice for The Gazette for an adult (LOC025)

The Gazette is the official publisher of changes of name at the Royal Courts of Justice. You must complete a notice for The Gazette yourself when enrolling a deed.

If you think publishing your details in The Gazette will put you at risk, you should write and sign an affidavit (a sworn written statement of truth) with any supporting proof and include it with your forms. You must still pay the fee for the advert and copy of The Gazette.

The court will then decide whether your details will be published. If they agree, you will receive a refund of the fee for the advert and copy.

When completing the form make sure:

• the date at the top and bottom of the form matches the date on your deed poll form (LOC020)
• your name is written in full throughout the form
• the form is printed single-sided

7. Where to send your deed poll forms

Send your forms and documents in the post to the King’s Bench Division.

King’s Bench Division
Enforcement Section
Room E15
The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL

Alternatively, you can take your forms and documents to the drop-off box located in the main entrance hall of the Royal Courts of Justice between 9am and 5pm.

8. What happens next

We will check your forms and any supporting documents to make sure that you have completed and submitted them correctly. We will have to return your forms if anything is incorrect.

If all forms are correct, we will then seal the original deed poll and allocate it a number.

We will post the original sealed deed to you – this is your proof of change of name.

You can then use this to tell your bank, employer or any other organisation about your name change.

We will forward the draft notice to The Gazette, who will then publish it as soon as they are able. The Gazette will then send you a copy of the published notice.

9. Get help with a deed poll

If you need to ask a question about your change of name, contact the Deed Poll Team at the King’s Bench Division.

Deed Poll Team
King’s Bench Division
Royal Court of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL

Telephone: 020 3936 8957 (option 6)
Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
Closed on bank holidays
Find out about call charges

Email: [email protected]
We aim to respond within 10 working days.

The email address is for queries only. You must not submit the deed poll forms by email.

You can also contact the Deed Poll Team if you have a query about an existing deed poll that is 5 years old or less.

If you have a query about a deed poll that is older than 5 years, contact The National Archives.