London Gazette Deed Poll Notice UK: Name Change Guide

What this document is

A deed poll is a written legal declaration by one person (the deed poll is 'poll' because it binds only you, not two parties) confirming that you are giving up your former name and adopting a new one for all purposes. Most adults in the UK use an unenrolled deed poll, which is signed, witnessed, and accepted by the vast majority of organisations including HM Passport Office and the DVLA.

An enrolled deed poll is different. It is lodged with the Senior Courts of England and Wales at the Royal Courts of Justice, becomes part of the public record, and is then advertised in the London Gazette. The Gazette notice is a required step in the enrolment process, not an optional extra.

Enrolment is generally only worth doing if you have a specific reason to want your change of name to appear on the official public record, for example for certain overseas purposes or because an institution has specifically requested it.

How to use this document

1. Decide whether enrolment is actually right for you. Before going anywhere near the Gazette, consider whether a simple unenrolled deed poll would do the job. For most day to day purposes, updating passports, driving licences and bank records, an unenrolled deed is accepted without issue. Enrolment is a longer, more expensive route and is only genuinely useful in a limited set of circumstances.
2. Prepare the enrolled deed poll document itself. The deed must follow the wording required by the Enrolment of Deeds (Change of Name) Regulations. It needs to record your old name, your new name, your address, and a declaration that you will use the new name at all times. It must be signed in the presence of witnesses who meet the eligibility rules, and accompanied by supporting statements such as a statutory declaration from someone who has known you for a qualifying period.
3. Submit the application to the Royal Courts of Justice. The completed deed and supporting documents are sent to the Filing and Record Keeping Department at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, along with the court fee. Check gov.uk for the current amount, as fees are reviewed periodically. Staff at the court will check that the paperwork complies with the regulations before anything is enrolled.
4. Arrange the London Gazette notice. As part of enrolment, a notice of your change of name is published in the London Gazette. This public advertisement contains your former name, your new name, and your address. The publication fee is paid directly to the Gazette and is separate from the court fee. Once published, the notice becomes part of the permanent public record.
5. Receive your enrolled deed and update your records. After enrolment and publication are complete, you will receive an official sealed copy of the enrolled deed poll. You can then use this to update passports, bank accounts, the electoral roll, HMRC, your employer, and any other organisations that hold your details. Keep the sealed copy safe, you may need to produce it again in future.

Common questions