Form

How to complete a child deed poll form

Updated 20 August 2025

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

• Publication for Scotland

Before you start

Before applying you should first read the full guide on changing your or a child’s name by deed poll. This includes:

• when you do and do not need a deed poll
• how to make your own deed poll
• the documents you must include when you apply to enrol a deed poll
• the fee to enrol a deed poll
• where to send your completed forms
• how you can apply online if you prefer

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

You must also complete:

• an affidavit (statement) of best interest
• a deed poll statutory declaration for a child
• photocopies of certain documents – these will be your ‘exhibits’. See the full guide for information about the documents you must include
• a cover sheet for each exhibit – you can use our template exhibit cover sheet

If you apply online, you do not need to complete the deed poll form. It will be completed for you and sent to you to print and sign after you have applied.

Complete the deed poll form

You must include all the details of the child’s new name and old name throughout the form, including any middle names. This is a legal document, which becomes the child’s deed poll, so therefore must:

• have no crossings out or mistakes
• be printed single-sided

Anyone with parental responsibility must sign the form. If either of you does not agree to sign the form, the other will need to apply for a court order. You should contact your local family court to apply for a court order.

You must sign the form in front of 2 witnesses. Your witnesses will also need to sign it.

You must take a photocopy of the form to include in your exhibits. We will keep the photocopy for reference and to make copies if you need them. We will return the original deed poll form to you as your copy.

The child’s citizenship

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

• British citizen
• Commonwealth citizen
• British dependent territories citizen

The person who signs the statutory declaration (the ‘declarant’) must also be a UK, Commonwealth or British independent territory citizen.

You must include on the form the section of the British Nationality Act 1981 that qualifies the child as a citizen. The declarant must include on the statutory declaration which section of the act qualifies their citizenship.

Section 1 (1)

If at the time of their birth, you or the child’s other parent was either:

• a British citizen
• born in the UK, a British dependent territory or Commonwealth country
• settled in the UK or the country where the child was born

Section 6 (1)

The child has a certificate of naturalisation.

Section 37 (1)

If the child is a citizen of a British dependent territory or a Commonwealth country.

Witnesses

You must have 2 witnesses present when you sign the child’s deed poll form. The witnesses can have known you for any length of time. The witnesses must:

• sign the form in pen, not a digital signature
• not be related to you or your child by birth or marriage

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

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, 9am to 5pm
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.