Deed Poll UK: How to Change Your Name Legally (2026)

At a glance

• A deed poll is a signed document declaring that you have given up your old name and will use a new one — GOV.UK's standard route for changing your name in England and Wales.
• From age 16, you can make your own 'unenrolled' deed poll straight away, signed in front of 2 witnesses aged 18 or over. No court involvement is needed.
• From age 18, you can additionally 'enrol' the deed poll with the High Court, putting your new name on public record. GOV.UK states the fee for this is £53.05 — check GOV.UK for the current rate.
• Under 16: only someone with parental responsibility can apply, and the deed poll must be enrolled with the High Court — either everyone with parental responsibility agrees, or you need a court order.
• Aged 16 or 17: the young person can make their own unenrolled deed poll, or a parent can enrol one for them with a witnessed letter of consent from the young person.
• Enrolling publishes the new name — and, for an adult, the address — in The Gazette, unless a strong reason is given for it to be withheld.
• A deed poll alone does not update your passport or driving licence. You must apply separately to HM Passport Office and DVLA using it as evidence.
• Registered sex, violent or terrorist offenders must tell the police of a name change within 3 days; not doing so is a criminal offence.

What a deed poll is

A deed poll is a written declaration that you have given up your former name and will use a new one for all purposes going forward. GOV.UK's guidance confirms you can change any part of your name — add or remove names, change the order of forenames, or alter the spelling — provided the new name is pronounceable and does not include symbols, numbers or punctuation, unless it is a hyphen or part of an established name.

There are limits. GOV.UK will not accept a name that is offensive or against the public interest — its own example is adding "Ltd" to the end of a name. A deed poll also cannot be used to change which letters in your name are capitalised, or to add a title such as Mr, Mrs, Sir, Lady or Doctor.

The legal basis for putting a deed poll on public record sits in The Enrolment of Deeds (Change of Name) Regulations 1994, made under the Supreme Court Act 1981. As the Regulations' own explanatory note puts it, at common law a surname is simply the name by which a person is generally known, and the effect of a deed poll is "only evidential and formal" — enrolment exists to provide unquestionable proof that the deed was executed. In practice, GOV.UK's current online service is the route most people use, and it does not require the older, more restrictive supporting evidence set out in the 1994 Regulations' text; always follow the live GOV.UK application process rather than the Regulations directly.

Unenrolled or enrolled: choosing your route

GOV.UK sets out two distinct routes, and picking the right one matters because some organisations will only accept one of them.

• Unenrolled deed poll. Available from age 16. You make it yourself, or a specialist agency or solicitor prepares it for you (they may charge a fee). It takes effect the moment it is signed and witnessed, and you can use it straight away as proof of your new name.
• Enrolled deed poll. Available from age 18. You apply online or by post to put your new name on public record with the High Court. GOV.UK confirms the fee is £53.05 (check GOV.UK for the current rate) and that it can take several weeks to process — you can ask the Deed Poll Office for an update after 16 weeks.

GOV.UK is explicit that some organisations — it names some banks, mobile phone companies and energy providers as examples — may only accept an enrolled deed poll as proof of a new name. Before choosing, it is worth contacting the specific organisation you need to update to check which type they require.

How to make your own unenrolled deed poll

If you are 16 or over, GOV.UK sets out the exact wording your deed poll should use. Replacing the bracketed sections with your own details, the declaration reads:

"I [old name] of [your address] have given up my name [old name] and have adopted for all purposes the name [new name].

"Where applicable, I have informed the police that I have given up my name [old name] and have adopted the name [new name] and understand that a failure to do so is a criminal offence.

"I also understand that when I apply for official documents in my new name, such as a British Passport, the relevant authorities may check the history and validity of my old name [old name] and new name [new name]. They may also check the information in any other supporting documents they have requested.

"Signed as a deed on [date] as [old name] and [new name] in the presence of [witness 1 name] of [witness 1 address], and [witness 2 name] of [witness 2 address]."

Witnesses

You need 2 witnesses, both aged 18 or over, to sign your deed poll. GOV.UK notes that some organisations will not accept a deed poll where a witness lives at the same address as you or is a close relative, so it is sensible to choose witnesses who are independent of your household even though the deed poll itself remains valid once signed.

Once signed and witnessed, you can use your deed poll straight away as proof of your new name.

Enrolling a deed poll with the High Court

To put your name change on public record, you apply online or by post to enrol your deed poll with the High Court. GOV.UK's current process involves:

1. Applying online, which triggers three forms — LOC020, LOC021 and LOC027 — sent to you by email.
2. Signing form LOC020 in front of 2 witnesses, who also sign it.
3. Signing forms LOC021 and LOC027 in front of a solicitor or another authorised witness.
4. Posting the completed forms to the Deed Poll Office, King's Bench Division, Room E15, The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL.

You will need to provide a birth certificate, valid passport, or certificate of naturalisation, plus supporting documents such as a marriage or civil partnership certificate if applicable. GOV.UK confirms the fee is £53.05 (check GOV.UK for the current rate) and that a public record of your new name, and your address, will be published in The Gazette — you can explain a strong reason for withholding your details in your application, and a judge may agree to publish only your first name or surname.

Changing a child's name by deed poll

The rules are stricter, and depend entirely on the child's age.

Under 16. Only someone with parental responsibility can apply, either through a specialist deed poll agency or solicitor for an unenrolled deed poll, or by enrolling with the High Court. To enrol, you need either the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility, or a court order. GOV.UK is clear that you must try to reach agreement before seeking a court order — if you cannot, you fill in form C100 for a "specific issue order" and send it to your nearest family court. There is a separate court fee for this application — check GOV.UK for the current amount — with help available through the court fees scheme if you're on benefits or a low income.

Aged 16 or 17. The young person can make their own unenrolled deed poll, in the same way an adult would. Alternatively, a parent can apply to enrol a deed poll for them, but the application must include a letter from the young person confirming they agree to the change — witnessed and signed by someone aged 18 or over who is not related to the child.

Documents needed to enrol a child's deed poll include the child's full birth certificate and, where relevant, adoption documents, evidence of your marital or relationship status, or a letter from a new partner agreeing to the change. The process uses forms LOC022, LOC023, LOC024 and LOC028, and — as with an adult enrolment — a public record is published in The Gazette.

If you are handling other family paperwork around the same time, our guide to family wills for parents of young children covers a related area worth reviewing while your child's records are being updated.

Updating your passport, driving licence and other records

A deed poll on its own does not change anything on your existing documents — you still need to apply to each record-holder separately.

Driving licence. Complete form D1 (or D2 for a lorry or bus licence) and send it to DVLA with your old licence and original supporting documents. GOV.UK confirms it costs nothing to change your name on a driving licence, though there is a small fee if you're also changing your photo at the same time (waived if you're over 70 or hold a medical short-period licence — check GOV.UK for the current amount). You can still drive while you wait for the new licence to arrive, and you must also update your V5C vehicle registration certificate.

Passport. GOV.UK lists a deed poll — alongside a statutory declaration or affidavit — as a document it accepts to change the name on your passport, sent together with evidence that you're using your new name (such as a payslip or council letter) and proof of any previous name changes. A new passport is needed to travel or prove your identity in your new name; check GOV.UK for the current passport application fees, which differ between the online and paper application routes.

Other organisations. Banks, HMRC, your GP, employer and utility providers are typical next steps. Each organisation sets its own evidence requirements, and — as above — some will insist on an enrolled deed poll rather than one you made yourself, so it is worth checking before you start.

If you're a registered offender

If you are a registered sex, violent or terrorist offender, GOV.UK requires you to tell the police that you've changed your name within 3 days of doing so, at your local prescribed police station — you'll be told where this is on release. Failing to notify the police is a criminal offence.

This guide provides general information about changing your name by deed poll in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice tailored to your specific circumstances. The process described was accurate as at August 2026 and is subject to change — always check GOV.UK for the current forms, fees and process before you apply.

Last reviewed: August 2026 by a non-practising solicitor · Next review due: August 2027 or on legislative change.