Minor's Change of Name Deed UK: Parent's Guide

What this document is

A Minor's Change of Name Deed is a written declaration that formally records a change to the name of a child under 18. It is signed by the person or people with parental responsibility rather than by the child. The deed states the child's old name, their new name, and contains undertakings from the signing adults that the new name will be used going forward in all dealings and records relating to the child.

To be effective the document must be executed as a deed, which in practice means it is signed in the presence of an independent witness who also signs and provides their details. Once signed, the deed can either be kept privately as an unenrolled deed poll (which is how most parents use it) or submitted for enrolment at the Senior Courts of England and Wales, where it becomes part of the public record and is published in the London Gazette. Enrolment is optional but can add weight when dealing with certain institutions abroad.

How to use this document

1. Confirm who holds parental responsibility. Before drafting anything, work out exactly who has parental responsibility for the child. This usually includes the mother, the father if married to the mother at the time of birth or named on the birth certificate (after 1 December 2003), and anyone holding a relevant court order. All of them generally need to agree in writing to the change.
2. Get written consent from everyone with parental responsibility. If one parent refuses or cannot be contacted, you cannot simply proceed without them. You may need to apply to the family court for a specific issue order under the Children Act 1989. Pushing ahead without full consent can make the deed ineffective and cause real problems later with passports and schools.
3. Prepare the deed with the correct wording. The document should clearly set out the child's full former name, the full new name, the date, and declarations that the signatories renounce the old name and will use the new name in all records and dealings. The child's age and the fact they are unmarried are typically stated, and the person signing confirms their authority to do so.
4. Sign as a deed in front of an independent witness. Each person with parental responsibility signs the document, and each signature is witnessed by someone who is not a family member or beneficiary and is ideally a professional person such as a solicitor or accountant. The witness prints their name, adds their address and signs alongside. A deed that is not properly witnessed may not stand up to scrutiny.
5. Notify the institutions that matter. Once the deed is executed, send certified copies or the original to HM Passport Office (to update the child's passport), the GP surgery, the school, HMRC for Child Benefit purposes, banks holding accounts in the child's name, and any other body that holds records. Keep the original safe, it is the evidence of the change.

Common questions