Form

How to change a child’s name by deed poll

Updated 14 October 2024

1. Before you start

Use this guidance to help you complete the forms you need to enrol the new name of a child at the Royal Courts of Justice. This is called ‘changing a child’s name by deed poll’. You can only do this if you are the child’s parent or you have parental responsibility for them. 

Before you read this form guidance, you should first read the main guidance on changing a child’s name by deed poll. 

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

If the child was born in Scotland, you should follow the rules and guidance for changing a child’s name in Scotland.

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

You can:

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

You cannot:

• change their title – for example, Master or Miss
• change any capitalisations of letters in their name

2. What you will need to change the child’s name by deed poll

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

You must include with the forms a copy of the child’s full birth certificate as evidence of their British or Commonwealth citizenship. 

If the child is adopted, you must also send us copies of their adoption documents. 

If you are adopting a child, you do not need to enter a deed poll. You can change the child’s name during the adoption process.

You may need to include other documents depending on your marital or relationship status. 

If the child’s birth certificate or any other 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

3. The fee to change a child’s name by deed poll

The total fee for changing a child’s 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 the child’s 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 a minor form (LOC022)

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

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

If you have a partner who co-parents the child, both of you must sign the form. If either of you does not agree to sign the form, the other will need to apply for a court order. You should contact your local family court to apply for a court order.

Nationality and the British Nationality Act sections

To change a child’s name by deed poll, they 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 them as a citizen.

Section 1 (1) 

If they’re a British citizen.

Section 37 (1)

If they were born in a Commonwealth country.

Witnesses

You must have 2 witnesses present when you sign the 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 or your child by birth or marriage

Your declarant, solicitor, commissioner of oaths or officer of the court can also be a witness. 

5. Affidavit of best interest (LOC023)

You must include an ‘affidavit of best interest’ with the application. You need this to demonstrate to the court that changing the child’s name is in their best interests.

There is no set format for this document, however you can find a suggested form (LOC023) alongside this guidance.

As the parent, or person with parental responsibility, you must complete the affidavit and swear it is true in the presence of a person who is authorised to witness the signing of important legal documents. This can be the same person who authorises the swearing to the truth of the statutory declaration.

All applications for change of a child’s name are referred to the senior judge for permission to enrol.

Exhibits to the affidavit of best interest

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

Depending on your relationship status, you must include certain exhibits with your affidavit of best interest:

• if you are widowed – include a photocopy of your partner’s death certificate
• if you are divorced – include a photocopy of the final order or decree absolute of divorce or dissolution, or the consent of your ex-partner

Other documents you may need

If your last name on the child’s birth certificate is not the same as your current last name, you must send us a photocopy of your marriage certificate showing the change of name.

If you are in a new relationship (married or not married), you must send us a letter from your new partner saying that they agree to the child’s name change.

If the child changing their name is aged 16 or 17, they must also send us a letter saying they agree to the name change.

6. Deed poll statutory declaration for a minor form (LOC024)

A statutory declaration is a document that must be completed by a person that knows you and the child. They must sign to confirm and 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.

You should also state how long the declarant has known the child. 

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 the deed poll form (LOC020) as one of the witnesses.

Swearing to the truth of the statutory declaration

Once the declarant has completed and signed 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. You must also pay an extra £2 for each exhibit. 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 the deed poll form (LOC022)
• Exhibit B – a photocopy of the child’s full birth certificate as evidence that they are a British, Commonwealth or British dependent territories citizen

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.

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.

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 and signature (the person who has known you for 10 or more years)] declared before me [enter name and signature of authorised witness] this [day] day of [month] in the year [year].”

7. Notice for The Gazette for a minor (LOC026)

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 and the child’s details in The Gazette will put you or them at risk, you should write and sign a statement 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 the deed poll form (LOC022)
• your child’s name is written in full throughout the form
• the form is printed single-sided

8. 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.

9. 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 use this to tell the child’s school, bank (if they have an account) or any other organisation about their 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.

10. Get help with a deed poll

If you need to ask a question about the child’s 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.