Changing a Child’s Name
Introduction to changing a child’s name
Please note: a child is considered to be someone under the age of 16 for name change purposes. If you have a child that is 16 or over they must apply for their own adult deed poll.
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The first step in legally changing a child’s name is to obtain consent from everyone with parental responsibility for the child. This means that you should have a letter
What is parental responsibility?
Parental responsibility is the legal term used to describe the collective rights and duties a parent has in relation to their child. It is defined under Section 3 of the Children Act
Who has parental responsibility for my child?
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, including-
Can I change my child’s name without full parental consent?
As a rule you must have permission from everyone that has parental responsibility for a child in order to legally change the child’s
Can a birth certificate be updated?
As a general rule you can not get the name on a child’s birth certificate changed because a birth certificate is considered a historical document, not proof of identity, and therefore
Letters of consent examples and templates
Once you have executed a deed poll on your child’s behalf you must inform everyone
Need additional help or advice?
If you have any questions about changing a child’s name we can offer free help and advice. Just call 020 8150 2010, send an e-mail to enquiries@deedpolls.com.