Easy Online UK Deed Poll Service - Legally Change Your Name
Legally changing your name by Deed Poll in the UK is easy. You can apply in as little as 10 minutes! Once you've made your application, our team of specialists will check over the information you've provided to ensure it will meet requirements. Then once all of your details have been confirmed, we'll create, bind and seal your Deed Poll and any additional copies you've requested.
We'll even email you a helpful digital guide to look through as soon as your order is placed, to make sure you complete the Deed Poll correctly, and to answer any other questions you have about the process.
You can choose which Deed you require below. A Child Deed Poll is for any individual under the age of 16.
Complete the online form for your chosen Deed Poll type
Add the Deed Poll to your basket and complete your purchase
We will check, prepare and professionally bind your Deed Poll
We'll then post your completed document and any copies to you
Do I need an enrolled or unenrolled Deed Poll?
In order to legally change your name in the UK with a Deed Poll, you don't need to enrol it. It will be accepted by all organisations and companies within the UK without this additional process. The only benefit of enrolling a Deed Poll is that your name change will be placed on public record, and most people don't want this to happen!
An unenrolled Deed Poll, like those provided by Vital Certificates, will be more than adequate for your official ID name changes, including driving license and passport, and isn't any less official than one which has been enrolled. Plus it's a lengthy and costly process, so we really don't recommend it!
Why choose Vital Certificates?
100% Acceptance Guarantee
We guarantee your Deed Poll will be accepted by all UK companies and organizations.
Professionally Prepared
Bound and sealed on high quality stock by our specialists.
Fast Certificate Preparation
We check and prepare your Deed quickly, before posting it out to you.
Ongoing Support
We email you a easy to follow guide when you place your order on how to use your Deed Poll.
Knowledgable Staff
Our team were established in 2006 and have years of experience in document preparation.
Easy Ordering
Fast and simple ordering process; request your Deed Poll in as little as 10 minutes!
Who will accept my deed poll?
We guarantee 100% acceptance for any Deed Poll issued by Vital Certificates, provided it's been completed and witnessed correctly once you receive it. This includes the DVLA, insurers, HM Passport Office, employers, utility companies, banks, education institutions and anywhere else you need to update your details. We provide an easy-to-follow guide with every Deed Poll order to help you complete the document correctly and if you still need support, our team is always here to help.
This section is designed to answer questions you may have about UK Adult Deed Polls. If there is anything you are unsure of, please feel free to call a member of our sales team on +44 (0) 330 088 1142, or use our live chat function. We will be more than happy to help.
A witness must be:
- over the age of 18
- not a close relative or someone you live with
- someone who knows who you are
- be of sound mind to make the declaration
- physically present when you sign the Deed
- A British resident
If you're in Jersey, you will need to have your Deed witnessed by a solicitor.
Some companies may supply digital Deed Polls, but we don't feel these hold any real value. When you're presenting your Deed to a company or government department, they will expect to see an official looking document which has been professionally drafted and bound. Having a hard copy posted out to you for you to sign ensures that we can guarantee your Deed will be accepted, provided you follow the guidance notes we provide on having it witnessed.
Unfortunatley, no. If you're sending your Deed Poll to make a change of details to your ID or an account with a company, you'll always need to provide an original with a "wet signature". Photocopies won't be accepted, so we recommend getting a few copies of your Deed. This will help safeguard against your only cpoy getting lost or damaged in the post, and allow you to update things quicker by sending out several requests at once.
Most people choose to have extra copies of their Deed Poll because:
- It speeds up your name change - each name change request will likely need a hard copy, so you could be waiting months to receive your only copy back each time!
- It protects from loss or damage – as hard as you try, sometimes things happen. Your only copy could get lost in the post, or damaged accidentally.
- It allows you to keep copies where you need them – maybe you’ll decide to keep one at home in a safe place, one at work, or maybe one in a second home. It’s always handy having those important documents to hand when you need them.
If you purchase additional copies within 60 days of your original order, there is no additional fees to be paid on top of the copy fees. You only pay what you would have originally paid when requesting copies on your original request! If you request copies after 60 days, there is an additional £10 admin fee.
Titles, officially known as "honorifics", are not a legal part of your name. If you are a Miss or Mrs, but would prefer to be known as "Ms", you do not need any documentation to make this change. You can simply choose your title by usage.
If you would like to change your name to more accurately reflect your gender, you can do so with a Deed Poll. Bear in mind however, that your official ID will still display your legally recognised gender until you obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate which you can find out more about here. To read more about Non-Binary and Transgender name changes, read more here.
In the UK, the government currently only recognises two genders. You are still able to change your name as you choose, and can adopt a gender-neutral title such as "Mx." if you wish. More companies are starting to recognise additional genders and making accommodations in their forms and paperwork processes.
Although there are no offical laws in the UK on the use of names, there are regulations enforced by individual government departments. For example, HM Passport Office have their own guidelines on the acceptance of names and if your application doesn't meet these, it will be rejected. Things to generally avoid when changing your name could include:
A registered trademark such as Coca Cola
Anything deemed offensive
A name which is unpronounceable
Contains numbers or special characters
Includes anything which could be deemed misleading such as Lord, Duke, Prince
Is extremely long
Only includes a single name
Gives the impression you have honours such as MBE, OBE
An Apostille is a government-issued verification applied to documents that are going to be used outside of the UK. If you have your UK-issued Deed Poll and are using it overseas for official purposes, such as applying for a Passport or Citizenship, you will likely need this service; if you're only going to be using your document within the UK, this won't be necessary.
Bear in mind that an Apostille is only recognised as full legalisation in other Hague Member states, including the USA, Australia and most of Europe. If you're using it outside the Hague zone, additional steps will be required. To find out more about this, see our Apostille page.
Yes, but you will likely need to complete several other stages before it will be recognised outside of the UK. If for example you're getting married overseas and need to provide your personal documents, the Deed Poll will need to be legally recognised by the authorities in the country.
To make this possible, you will need to legalise, also known as "attest" your Deed. The process itself will differ, depedent on where you're getting married, and you may also require a translation. For more information, get in touch with our friendly team of specialists who can advise on legalising and translating your Deed for use in over 150 countries.
Of course. If you're presenting the document overseas and need it to be translated from English to another language, we can help. When you've added the Deed Poll to your basket, simply add your preferred service to your order too from the translation section. We will then produce your Deed for you and then have a translation made.
Bear in mind that even if you request several additional copies of your Deed, each translation is charged per document, therefore you will only receive one translated copy.
No, not unless you tell them. Unless you Enroll your Deed Poll, the document remains private and not a public document. You will need to notify any companies or organisations of your name change yourself, usually by sending a cover letter along with an original copy of your Deed.
Some companies may supply digital Deed Polls, but we don't feel these hold any real value. When you're presenting your Deed to a company or government department, they will expect to see an official looking document which has been professionally drafted and bound. Having a hard copy posted out to you for you to sign ensures that we can guarantee your Deed will be accepted, provided you follow the guidance notes we provide on having it witnessed.
Find out more about name changes in the UK
If you would like to read more about name changes and how they can be done in your personal circumstances, simply choose a category below. If you can't find the answers you need and would rather speak to our friendly team, just get in touch! We're more than happy to talk you through your options to make sure you get the right document for your needs.
If you previously had a UK Deed Poll and have since lost it, you can order a Replacement Deed Poll. This type of Deed Poll makes reference to your historical name change.
If you can't remember the exact date of your original Deed Poll, don't worry! You can simply state the month and year as approximate date (please only complete the most relevant field in the form below).
As well as your professionally bound and sealed document, checked by our specialist team, you will receive a help guide on making your document legally binding.
This Replacement Deed Poll service is suitable if:
You're 16 or over
You're a UK resident
You previously changed your name via Deed Poll
You've been using your current (new) name since the change
If you would like to officially make a change of name by Deed Poll in the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, you can request one here. A Deed Poll, once signed and witnessed, is a formal legal document stating you are giving up your previous name and intend to use your newly chosen new name for all purposes. Our UK Adult Deeds polls are for:
Individuals who are 16 years of age or more
UK residents
A Deed Poll from Vital Certificates is accepted by all UK governmental departments such as the DVLA, HM Passport Office, as well as banks, utility companies and education institutions.
We will prepare your professional Deed Poll and despatch it to you within 3 working days. If you need it urgently, we can dispatch it within 1 working day for an additional fee.
It's important to understand who has parental responsibility (PR) for a child in order to change their name legally in England or Wales. All individuals with PR must give their permission for the change to be made. The rules for Scotland and NI differ.
By answering a few important questions, you can be confident that you're not missing anything major which could cause complications in the future, and mean that your child's Deed Poll will be legally binding.
Click the button below to start the questionnaire.
If you want to change the name of a child under the age of 16, who is a British National resident in the UK, you may require a Deed Poll. It's important to note that anyone with parental responsibility (PR) for the child must give permission for the name change in order for the Deed to be valid. It is the responsibility of the adult making the application for the Deed to ensure that everyone with PR has given consent.
A Deed Poll, once signed and witnessed, is a formal legal document stating the child is giving up their previous name and you intend to use their newly chosen new name for all purposes.
A Deed created by Vital Certificates is guaranteed to be accepted by all UK governmental departments, such as HM Passport Office, as well as banks and education institutions. We will prepare your professional Deed Poll and despatch it to you within 3 working days. If you need it urgently, we can despatch it within 1 working day for an additional fee.
As well as a professionally drafted and bound Deed Poll document, you will receive a digital help guide on making the Deed legally binding and a comprehensive guide on creating a consent letter to support the Deed.
