Form

How to change your name by deed poll

Updated 23 February 2024

1. Before you start

Use this guidance to help you complete the forms you need to enrol your new name at the Royal Courts of Justice. This is called ‘changing your name by deed poll’.

Before you read this form guidance, you should first read the main guidance on changing your name by deed poll.

If you want to enrol a change of name for a child, you must use the guidance and forms for changing your child’s name by deed poll. You cannot enrol a change of name yourself if you’re under 18 years old.

If you were born in Scotland, you should follow the rules and guidance for changing your name in Scotland.

2. What you will need to change your name by deed poll

You must complete and send us the following deed poll forms:

You must include with the forms evidence that you’re a British or Commonwealth citizen. This could be a photocopy of your:

• birth certificate
• in date and valid passport
• certificate of naturalisation

Changing your name if you are adopted

If you’re adopted and want to change your name, you must also send us copies of your adoption documents.

You must do this if you want to change your name to either the name of an adoptive parent or of a birth parent.

Changing your name if you are married or in a civil partnership

You do not need to change your name by deed poll when you get married or enter a civil partnership. However, if you’re already married or in a civil partnership and wish to change your family name, you will also need to include your husband, wife or partner’s written consent.

They can consent by writing a letter – it should say that they have no objections to you changing from your current name to your new name.

If you’re unable to get their consent, you should provide an affidavit (a sworn written statement of truth) explaining why.

Changing your name if you are divorced

You do not need to enrol a deed poll if you’re divorced and want to return to using a former name (such as a maiden name).

However, you may need to provide evidence of your divorce, such as a copy of the divorce order, to change your name with your bank, employer or on your passport.

3. The fee to change your name by deed poll

The total fee for changing your name by deed poll is £48.32.

This includes:

• the court enrolment fee – £10
• an advertisement charge – £29.52
• a copy of The Gazette with your name change – £8.80

You can pay the fee by:

• cheque
• postal order
• bankers’ draft
• credit or debit card

You should make your cheque, postal order or banker’s draft payable to ‘HMCTS’. Include it when you send the forms or hand them in person at the Royal Courts of Justice.

You can only pay by credit or debit card in person or by calling 020 3936 8957 (option 1).

4. Change of name deed for an adult form (LOC020)

You must complete the change of name deed form with all the details of your new name and your old name.

You must declare your relationship status. If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you will need the written permission of your husband, wife or partner.

Nationality and the British Nationality Act sections

To change your name by deed poll, you must be a:

• British citizen
• British dependent territories citizen
• Commonwealth citizen

You must write under which section of the British Nationality Act 1981 you’re the type of citizen you select.

Section 1 (1)

If you’re a British citizen born on or after 1 January 1983.

Section 11 (1)

If you were born in the UK on or before 31 December 1982 and are:

• a British citizen
• a citizen of a British dependent territory or the Commonwealth born with the right to remain in the UK under the Immigration Act

Section 37 (1)

If you were born in a British dependent territory or a Commonwealth country.

Witnesses

You must have 2 witnesses present when you sign your deed form. They must also sign the form.

Your declarant, solicitor or a commissioner of oaths can also be a witness.

5. Deed poll statutory declaration for an adult form (LOC021)

A statutory declaration is a document that must be completed by a person that knows you. They must sign to confirm and declare that you are who your application says you are. They are referred to in the declaration form as the ‘declarant’.

The declarant must:

• have known you for 10 years or longer
• be a British or Commonwealth citizen
• be a householder – either an owner-occupier or a tenant

If your declarant is not a householder, you must tell us. The judge will then decide if their declaration can be accepted.

The declarant cannot be your:

• husband or wife
• civil partner
• any other relative (by birth or marriage)

If you have not known anyone for 10 years or longer, you must include a written statement that explains the reasons why. This will be referred to a senior judge at the Royal Courts of Justice, who will decide if your change of name can be enrolled.

Swearing to the truth of the statutory declaration

Once the declarant has completed and signed the statutory declaration, they must swear that it is true in the presence of a person who is authorised to witness the signing of important legal documents. This could be:

• a solicitor
• a commissioner for oaths
• an officer of the senior courts

When the declarant swears that the declaration is true, they must do so either by oath on a holy book or by giving an affirmation, which is where a statement of truth is read out.

The authorised witness must also sign the statutory declaration.

You will be charged a fee when the declarant makes their oath or affirmation. If the oath or affirmation is made in court, the fee is £13. The fee may be different if the oath or affirmation is being made in the presence of a solicitor or commissioner for oaths.

Exhibits to the statutory declaration

An ‘exhibit’ is a document used in court as evidence. The court needs exhibits as proof of who your application says you are.

In the statutory declaration the exhibits are referred to by letters:

• Exhibit A – your deed poll form (LOC020)
• Exhibit B – your evidence that you’re a British or Commonwealth citizen

If you’re married, you may also need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. You should attach this to the statutory declaration and mark it as ‘Exhibit C’.

The exhibits will need to have signed declaration cover sheets with the relevant exhibit letter and signed by the same authorised witness who witnessed the declarant make their oath or affirmation.

The exhibit sheets must include the following wording:

“This is the exhibit marked ‘A’/‘B’/‘C’ referred to in the declaration of [enter statutory declarant’s name (the person who has known you for 10 or more years)] declared before me [enter name of authorised witness] this [day] day of [month] in the year [year].”

6. Notice for The Gazette for an adult (LOC025)

The Gazette is the official publisher of changes of name at the Royal Courts of Justice. You must complete a notice for The Gazette yourself when enrolling a deed.

If you think publishing your details in The Gazette will put you at risk, you should write and sign a statement with any supporting proof and include it with your forms. You must still pay the fee for the advert and copy of The Gazette.

The court will then decide whether your details will be published in The Gazette. If they agree, you will receive a refund of the fee for the advert and copy.

If you have a query about how and when your notice will be published, you can contact The Gazette directly.

7. Where to send your deed poll forms

Send or take your forms and documents to the King’s Bench Division.

King’s Bench Division
Enforcement Section
Room E15
The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL

8. What happens next

We will check your forms and any supporting documents to make sure that you have completed and submitted them correctly. We will have to return your forms if anything is incorrect.

We will then seal the original deed poll and allocate it a number. This will be displayed in a round seal on the deed.

We will forward the draft notice to The Gazette, who will then publish it as soon as they are able. You will receive a copy of the published notice.

We will send the original sealed deed to you as your proof of change of name.

You may then need to tell your bank, employer or any other organisation about your name change and provide them with the evidence they ask for.

9. Get help with a deed poll

If you need to ask a question about your change of name, contact the Deed Poll Team at the King’s Bench Division.

Deed Poll Team
King’s Bench Division
Royal Court of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL

Telephone: 020 3936 8957 (option 6)
Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
Closed on bank holidays
Find out about call charges

Email: kbdeedspoll@justice.gov.uk
We aim to respond within 10 working days.

The email address is for queries only. You must not submit the deed poll forms by email.

You can also contact the Deed Poll Team if you have a query about an existing deed poll that is 5 years old or less.

If you have a query about a deed poll that is older than 5 years, contact The National Archives.