Our advisors are asked “Who is the official deed poll service?” or “Where is the official Deed Poll office?” on a daily basis. There is a common and somewhat understandable misconception that deed polls are issued by an official government department or agency; and there are a number of shady websites that try to mislead or trick their visitors into thinking that they are indeed the official service.

The truth is that there is no such thing as an official or government-approved deed poll office. Every website offering deed polls is owned by a private company or individual with absolutely no affiliation with or endorsement from the UK government. Therefore don’t be tricked into paying an unnecessarily high price for a online deed poll in the UK. Leading many people to wonder how much is deed poll in the UK? Unfortunately its not an easy question to answer as each website and company will charge different prices, so ensure you shop around before changing your name. 

The prices we charge on our site are always clear with full explanations of the service and product you’ll be receiving. Be sure to make contact with our team if you require further help with our online Deed Poll application form, or click the button below to view pricing and the various options available.

Why isn’t there an official issuer?

In order to understand why there is no official issuer of deed polls in the United Kingdom. You need to understand exactly what a deed poll is. You will often hear people referring to a deed poll as a “certificate” – this is wrong! A deed poll is simply a specific type of legal document, a contract of sorts, and as such they can be prepared by a solicitor or specialist legal service company.

Does that mean that my deed poll may not be accepted as evidence of my name change by everyone?

Absolutely not! Deed poll documents issued by us are guaranteed to be accepted by all organisations based in the United Kingdom. Therefore you can be assured that everyone will accept it as evidence of your name change. If for some reason your deed poll is refused by any organisation we will give you a full refund.

It is worth noting that in over fourteen years of issuing deed polls, amounting to tens of thousands of documents, we have never had to refund someone under our guarantee.

Further reading

The Advertising Standards Authority recently upheld two complaints (complaint one and complaint two) against UK Deed Poll Service, one of our competitors, for using the term “official website” on their website, thereby misleading visitors into thinking that they were offering an official government service which is a breach of rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the CAP Code.

Although the Advertising Standards Authority ruled against UK Deed Poll Service and ordered that they may not use the word “official” on their website or in their advertising material, the company continues to do so.

A Deed of Change of Name, more commonly known simply as a deed poll, is a legal document which has been specifically drawn up for the purpose of allowing an individual to legally change their name. Deed polls have been in use within the United Kingdom for over one hundred and fifty years and during that time hundreds of thousands of people have used the process. In 2011 alone a record-breaking 70,000 people changed their name by deed poll.

Why do I need a deed poll?

Although there is no specific law relating to changing your name in the UK, and technically you are free to use any name you wish without going through any formal process, in order to get most documents and records updated you must provide documentary evidence that your name has changed.

Executing a deed poll provides you are declaring that-

1. you abandon your old name,
2. you will use your new name exclusively, and
3. you require everyone to call you by your new name

A deed poll provides the documentary evidence of your change of name required to get your passport, driving license, credit and debit cards, store cards, national insurance and tax information, employment records and most other documents updated.

Which information will appear on the deed poll?

The deed poll documents we issue contain the following information:

1. your old name,
2. your new name,
3. your home address,
4. your date of birth, and
5. details of your chosen witness (name, address and occupation)

What is a deed poll?

A Deed of Change of Name, more commonly known simply as a deed poll, is a legal document which has been specifically drawn up for the purpose of allowing an individual to legally change their name. Deed polls have been in use within the United Kingdom for over one hundred and fifty years and during that time hundreds of thousands of people have used the process. In 2011 alone a record-breaking 70,000 people changed their name by deed poll.

Why do I need a deed poll?

Although there is no specific law relating to changing your name in the UK, and technically you are free to use any name you wish without going through any formal process, in order to get most documents and records updated you must provide documentary evidence that your name has changed.

Executing a deed poll provides you are declaring that-

1. you abandon your old name,
2. you will use your new name exclusively, and
3. you require everyone to call you by your new name

A deed poll provides the documentary evidence of your change of name required to get your passport, driving license, credit and debit cards, store cards, national insurance and tax information, employment records and most other documents updated.

Which information will appear on the deed poll?

The deed poll documents we issue contain the following information:

1. your old name,
2. your new name,
3. your home address,
4. your date of birth, and
5. details of your chosen witness (name, address and occupation)

Read more.

Who to inform after changing your name

Executing your deed poll is the first step in legally changing your name. Once you have signed, dated and had the document witnessed, you must inform every organisation which holds your personal information on file. Some organisations will allow you to notify them by sending the deed poll to them by post while others (your bank, for example) will ask that you bring the deed poll to them in person.

The organisations you need to inform of your name change are entirely dependent on your personal circumstances but as a general guide you will usually need to tell:

• your employer,
• your bank or building society,
• your mortgage provider,
• loan or credit card providers,
• your doctor,
• the DVLA (to update your license and vehicle registration document),
• the Identity and Passport Service,
• HMRC (for tax and national insurance records),
• your landline phone service provider,
• your mobile phone service provider,
• your internet service provider,
• your local authority (for council tax and electoral roll),
• your car insurance provider,
• your life insurance provider, and
• your local police force

Note: You only need to notify your local police force if you have any outstanding criminal cases against you or if you are required to be registered on the Violent and Sex Offender Register under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Can a birth certificate be updated?

Very few circumstances exist whereby a birth certificate can be amended. This is because they are considered historical documents which were correct at the time of issue. In most cases you will not be able to have your birth certificate amended and if you wish to legally change your name, you will have to apply for a deed poll.

Changing a child’s forenames

You may apply to the register office where the birth certificate was originally registered to have your child’s forename amended on his birth certificate providing the new name was given to him either in baptism or by regular use within twelve months of the birth being registered.

Change of forename in baptism

If your child was given their new forename in baptism, you must obtain “Form 13” from your local registry office and then take it to the Vicar or Minister of the Church where the child was baptised. They will complete the form (for which they will usually require a fee) and then you can return it to the registry office where the amended names will be inserted into space seventeen of the birth certificate.

Change of forename by use

If you are applying to change the forename on your child’s birth certificate because the new name has been in general use within the first twelve months of his life, you must obtain and complete “Form 14” from the registry office where the birth was originally registered.

If you are completing the form within the first twelve months after the birth was registered, you do not need to provide any evidence, but if you’re applying after the first twelve months, you’ll need to provide some documentary evidence that the new name has been in general use within the first year of the child’s life. The documentary evidence can be in the form of a dated bank statement, NHS letter, medical card, etc.

Changing a child’s surname

Although more difficult to achieve, it is possible to have a child’s birth certificate amended to show a new surname.

If the mother and father of the child were not married at the time, and the child’s birth was registered without the father being recorded, you can apply to the registry office at any time to include the father’s details and change the child’s surname to that of its father.

If the natural mother and father of a child marry each other at any time after the registration of their child’s birth, they can apply to the registry office to re-register the birth to change both the mother’s and child’s surname to that of the father/husband.

Is there a register of deed polls?

You may be surprise to learn that there is no central register of deed polls as there is no requirement to officially record a change of name in the United Kingdom. You may however have your deed poll enrolled in the Enrolment Books of the Supreme Court of Judicature which will provide a publically accessible record of your change of name.

Why would you enrol a deed poll?

There is no advantage to be had by enrolling your deed poll other than to provide a public record of your name change. Due to the costs involved (£64.43 as of November 2010) and the very stringent requirements the vast majority of people changing their name by deed poll decide against enrolment and as a result only around 250 of the 70,000 deed polls issued each year end up in the Enrolment Books.

Getting your document enrolled

If you wish to have your deed poll enrolled you should call the Royal Courts of Justice on 0207 947 6000 for more information, or write to:

The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL