A statutory declaration (stat dec) is a legal document which can be used as evidence of your legal change of name and as such it is very similar to a deed poll (deed of change of name). However, a stat dec differs from a deed poll in that it must be signed in the presence of a legal professional such as:

• a Solicitor,
• a Notary of the Public,
• a Justice of the Peace, or
• a Commissioner for Oaths

Given that you have to pay for a qualified legal professional to authenticate your stat dec it is often the case that executing a deed poll is better value for money.