Form

How to change a child’s name by deed poll

Updated 1 May 2024

1. Before you start

Use this guidance to help you complete the forms you need to enrol the new name of a child at the Royal Courts of Justice. This is called ‘changing a child’s name by deed poll’. You can only do this if you are the child’s parent or you have parental responsibility for them. 

Before you read this form guidance, you should first read the main guidance on changing a child’s name by deed poll. 

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

If the child was born in Scotland, you should follow the rules and guidance for changing a child’s name in Scotland.

2. What you will need to change the child’s name by deed poll

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

You must include with the forms a copy of the child’s birth certificate as evidence of their British or Commonwealth citizenship. 

If the child is adopted, you must also send us copies of their adoption documents. 

You may need to include other documents, known as ‘exhibits’, depending on your marital or relationship status. 

3. The fee to change a child’s name by deed poll

The total fee for changing a child’s name by deed poll is £48.32.

This includes:

• the court enrolment fee – £11
• 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 a minor form (LOC022)

You must complete the change of name deed form with all the details of the child’s new name and their old name.

If you have a partner who co-parents the child, both of you must sign the form.

Nationality and the British Nationality Act sections

To change a child’s name by deed poll, they must be a: 

• British citizen 
• British dependent territories citizen
• Commonwealth citizen

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

Section 1 (1) 

If they’re a British citizen.

Section 37 (1)

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

Witnesses

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

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

5. Affidavit of best interest (LOC023)

You must include an ‘affidavit of best interest’ with the application. You need this to demonstrate to the court that changing the child’s name is in their best interests.

There is no set format for this document, however you can find a suggested form (LOC023) alongside this guidance.

As the parent, or person with parental responsibility, you must complete the affidavit and swear it is true in the presence of a person who is authorised to witness the signing of important legal documents. This can be the same person who authorises the swearing to the truth of the statutory declaration.

All applications for change of a child’s name are referred to the senior master for permission to enrol.

Exhibits to the affidavit of best interest

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

Depending on your relationship status, you must include certain exhibits with your affidavit of best interest:

• if you are widowed – include your partner’s death certificate
• if you are divorced – include the final order of divorce or dissolution or the consent of your ex-partner
• if you wish to marry another partner – include the consent of your new partner and the consent of your ex-partner 

Those giving consent can do so by writing a letter – it should say that they have no objections to you changing the child’s current name to their new name.

If you cannot provide the consent of your ex-partner, you must give a reason on the affidavit.

6. Deed poll statutory declaration for a minor form (LOC024)

A statutory declaration is a document that must be completed by a person that knows you and the child. 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.

You should also state how long the declarant has known the child. 

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 £14. 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 – the deed poll form (LOC022)
• Exhibit B – a copy of the child’s birth certificate as evidence of their British or Commonwealth citizenship

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 person who administers the statutory declaration will provide the exhibit sheets.

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].”

7. Notice for The Gazette for a minor (LOC026)

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 and the child’s details in The Gazette will put you or them 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.

8. 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

9. 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 the child’s change of name. 

You may then need to tell the child’s school, bank (if they have an account) or any other organisation about their name change and provide them with the evidence they ask for.

10. Get help with a deed poll

If you need to ask a question about the child’s 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.