A Deed Poll is the widely recognised name for the legal document that enables you to officially change your name.  It is more formally known as a Deed of Change of Name, but the term Deed Poll is more commonly used throughout the UK. 

The term ‘Deed’ is common to  signed, written agreements that have been shown to all concerned parties. Strictly speaking, it is not a contract because it binds only one party and expresses an intention instead of a promise. ‘Poll’ is an old legal term referring to official documents that had cut edges (were polled) so that they were straight. By doing this it was easy to distinguish which documents had been signed by only one person and which were signed by more than one. At the time, such agreements would be given an indenture, so that each party had a document with corresponding tears. This helped discourage forgery. 

By Deed Poll, you can choose to change forenames, surnames, and middle names as well as being able to add and remove names. You can also rearrange current forenames or alter spellings. The Deed Poll enables a citizen to formally change their name on official records such as their passport, driving licence, tax and National Insurance records, bank and credit cards, etc. 

Your birth certificate, marriage certificate and educational certificates cannot be changed because these documents are “matter of fact”. This means that they were correct at the time they were issued.

A Deed Poll is a legal document and the person who signs it, dates it, and has it witnessed, is committing themselves to the following actions:

• To renounce and abandon the use of a former name
• To use their new name/s at all times
• To require everybody to address them only by their new name

  How to apply for a Deed Poll

Please note, dealing with us directly means that you do not need to visit a solicitor.