About changing the name of more than one person

Family members can apply for a deed poll at the same time, at a reduced price.

If you're making an application for more than one person, you should just go ahead and fill in the form for any one of the people applying. When you have finished, you will be asked if you want to add more people to the application.

Eligibility

Note: If you’re applying on behalf of someone else, you need to answer the questions as though it were that person answering.

You can apply for your deed poll now, so you’ve got it ready to sign on your 16th birthday (or any time afterwards).  Bear in mind that you won’t be able to use your new name until that time.
! Warning: Although you can legally change your own name once you’re 16, you may still need the consent of everyone with parental responsibility for you, if you’re subject to any court orders which are still in force after you’ve turned 16.

Note: We only need to know about any court orders which are stillwill still be in force after you’ve turned 16

Please provide the following details for each court order you’re a subject of —

  • whether the court order was made in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, or outside of the U.K.
  • when the court order comes to an end (will no longer be in force)

Note: Please choose the first option that applies to you

Note: British national means someone who holds a kind of British nationality, and can be a British citizen, British National (Overseas), British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, or British Subject

Note: U.K. in this context means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

Note: Dual nationality is also known as “dual citizenship” or “multiple citizenship”

Dual nationals

As a dual national (i.e. British and another country), you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

To update your documents and records in your other country of nationality, you’ll need to follow the process in that country.

Bear in mind that HM Passport Office won’t allow you to hold a passport in a different name from any foreign passport, national ID card, or travel document you may hold (from your other country of nationality).

So if you hold a foreign passport, you’ll normally have to update it as well (to be in your new name).

Note: You should answer “yes” even if you haveyour child has an expired or cancelled passport, which was issued by a country other than the U.K., Isle of Man, or Channel Islands — or if youthey had a passport which has been lost or stolen.  You don’t need to answer “yes” if youthey were only named as a child on yourtheir parent’s passport.

Holders of foreign passports

If you hold a non-British passport, HM Passport Office will only issue a British passport in your new name if —

  • you also update your passport from your other country of nationality (to be in your new name)
  • your other country of nationality won’t allow the change of name (you’ll need a letter or other official evidence showing this)
  • you’ve changed your name as part of a change of gender, and your other country of nationality won’t allow the change of gender
  • you’d need to go to your other country of nationality to change your name, and due to exceptional circumstances in that country, you’d be put at a high level of risk
  • you seek to give up (“renounce”) your other nationality
  • you’d be at risk of harm unless your name is changed, e.g. owing to you being a victim of crime (such as domestic violence) or a vulnerable witness
  • there are other exceptional circumstances that would seriously and adversely affect your life in the U.K. unless your name is changed

For most people — this means you’ll have to update your foreign passport at the same time as, or before, you apply for your British passport in your new name.  If your other country of nationality has a similar requirement to HM Passport Office, you’ll simply have to apply for both passports at the same time.  If possible, though, it’s usually better to update your foreign passport first.

This policy still applies even if you have a (U.K.) birth / naturalisation / registration certificate issued in your new name.  Do not assume you can automatically apply for a British passport in the new name.  If it’s possible to update your non-British passport to be in your new name — you must do so.

If you have to go to your other country of nationality to update your passport, HM Passport Office will normally expect you to do this, although they also accept that some countries are too dangerous to travel to (check with your embassy, and the FCDO travel advice ↗).

Irish nationals

As an Irish national resident in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

As a U.K. resident, you should be using a U.K. deed poll (not an Irish deed poll).

To apply for an Irish passport in your new name, you’ll need to show that you’ve been using your new name (in the U.K.) for two years, by showing an updated driving licence, pay slips, or bank statements etc. (in your new name).  These need to date back at least two years, so you’ll have to wait two years before you can do this.

EU / Icelandic / Liechtenstein / Norwegian / Swiss nationals

As an EU / Icelandic / Liechtenstein / Norwegian / Swiss national resident in the U.K., you can update your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

However, to change your passport / national ID card, you’ll need to use the process in your country of origin, who may accept your deed poll, but who will probably have their own process which you’ll need to follow.  Until you do this —

  • You’ll need to travel in and out of the U.K. in your old name (as shown on your passport / national ID card).
  • Your residence documentation in the U.K. will be in your old name (although there are some exceptions to this rule).
  • You may find it more difficult updating records in the U.K. to be in your new name.
  • It may be more difficult using your passport / national ID card as proof of your identity (seeing as it’ll still show your old name), although you’ll often be able to use it together with your deed poll.
  • If you apply to become a British citizen, your naturalisation certificate will be issued in the same name as on your passport / national ID card.  However, you’ll still be able to apply for a British passport in your new name.

It isn’t a legal requirement in the U.K. to hold a form of ID.  However, you won’t be able to travel in or out of the U.K. without a valid passport or national ID card.

If you do want to go ahead with a deed poll, you may consider applying for a (provisional) U.K. driving licence in your new name to use as ID within the U.K. — even if you don’t drive.

Foreign nationals

As a foreign national resident in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

To update your passport / national ID card (if you haven’t already done so), you’ll need to follow the process in your country of origin.

If you’ve got a residence permit (a ‘Biometric Residence Permit’ or ‘BRP’) — you’ll need to keep it up-to-date (in your correct name).  However, you’ll need to update your passport / national ID card first.

You should update your BRP (to be in your new name) within 3 months of changing your name, or else you may be fined up to £ 1,000 or have your stay shortened.

If you’ve got a “Residence Card” (or a “Permanent Residence Card”, “Derivative Residence Card”, or “Accession Residence Card”), then there isn’t a legal requirement to keep it up-to-date, or a time limit within which you have to do so.  However, it’s still recommended to keep it in the same name as your passport

(Irish nationals don’t need to have a BRP, and nor do EU / Icelandic / Liechtenstein / Norwegian / Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status.)

If you’re not an Irish / EU / Icelandic / Liechtenstein / Norwegian / Swiss national, and you haven’t got a BRP already, you’ll get one when you apply for —

  • an extension / replacement of a U.K. visa
  • “limited leave to remain” in the U.K. which adds up to 6 months’ leave in total
  • “indefinite leave to remain” in the U.K. (leave to “settle” in the U.K.)
  • a Convention Travel Document
  • a Stateless Person’s Travel Document
  • a Certificate of Travel
Refugees and stateless people

As a refugee or stateless person in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

You don’t have to update your passport from your country of origin.

You must update your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 3 months of signing your deed poll, or else you may be fined up to £ 1,000 or have your stay shortened.

If you’ve got a Travel Document, you can apply for a new one after you’ve updated your BRP.

People with humanitarian protection

As a humanitarian protected person in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

You don’t have to update your passport from your country of origin, so long as it’s officially accepted that you can’t approach the authorities in that country.  (If you’ve got a Certificate of Travel, then this will be the case.)

You must update your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 3 months of signing your deed poll (or updating your passport, if possible to do so).  Otherwise you may be fined up to £ 1,000 or have your stay shortened.

If you’ve got a Certificate of Travel, you can apply for a new one after you’ve updated your BRP.

Asylum seekers

As someone seeking asylum in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using your deed poll as proof of your change of name.

If you’re asylum application is successful — and you’re granted permission to stay as a refugee, or you’re granted humanitarian protection — you’ll get a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which can be issued in your new name (as on your deed poll).

If you’re granted permission to stay for other reasons — because you don’t qualify as a refugee — then you’ll get a BRP in the same name as on your passport.  If you don’t update your passport (and BRP) to be in your new name, you’ll be ‘also known as’ the new name — it won’t be a legal change of name ‘for all purposes’.

You can only use a new (different) name on your BRP if —

  • you’re a recognised refugee or stateless person
  • you’ve been granted humanitarian protection and it’s officially accepted that you cannot approach the authorities in your country of origin
  • you’re transgender and your country of origin doesn’t recognise changes to your name and/or gender
  • you’d be at risk of harm unless your name is changed, e.g. owing to you being a victim of crime (such as domestic violence) or a vulnerable witness
  • there are other exceptional circumstances that would seriously and adversely affect your life in the U.K. unless your name is changed
Foreign nationals applying to become a British citizen

If you're applying to become a British citizen, you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name, using a deed poll as proof of your change of name, but you might not be able to update some records — including your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) — until you've become a British citizen.

Your naturalisation / registration certificate will normally be issued in the same name as on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), passport, and/or national ID card.

You can only use a new (different) name on your naturalisation / registration certificate if —

  • you’re a recognised refugee or stateless person
  • you’ve been granted humanitarian protection and it’s officially accepted that you cannot approach the authorities in your country of origin
  • you’re transgender and your country of origin doesn’t recognise changes to your name and/or gender
  • you’d be at risk of harm unless your name is changed, e.g. owing to you being a victim of crime (such as domestic violence) or a vulnerable witness
  • there are other exceptional circumstances that would seriously and adversely affect your life in the U.K. unless your name is changed

If none of these conditions applies to you, we’d normally recommend that you change your name (and sign your deed poll) after you’ve become a British citizen.  You can pre-order your deed poll now, if you wish, but it’s better to sign the document once you’re a British citizen.  (The deed poll will only take effect once it’s been signed.)

Bear in mind, that becoming a British citizen doesn’t (usually) take away the citizenship of your country of origin automatically — in which case you’ll become a dual national (unless you’re from a country which forbids dual nationality, such as Austria, China, India, Japan, or Norway).

If you’re a dual national (i.e. British and another nationality), HM Passport Office will only issue a British passport in your new name if —

  • you also update your passport from your other country of nationality (to be in your new name)
  • your other country of nationality won’t allow the change of name (you’ll need a letter or other official evidence showing this)
  • you’ve changed your name as part of a change of gender, and your other country of nationality won’t allow the change of gender
  • you’d need to go to your other country of nationality to change your name, and due to exceptional circumstances in that country, you’d be put at a high level of risk
  • you seek to give up (“renounce”) your other nationality
Foreign nationals who cannot update their passport to be in their new name

As a foreign national resident in the U.K., you can change your U.K. documents and records (e.g. driving licence, NHS records, etc.) to be in your new name — using your deed poll as proof of your change of name — but you won’t normally be able to update your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (if you’re required to hold one) to be in your new name.

If you’ve got a BRP, it needs to be kept up-to-date (in your correct name).
You might not have a BRP yet, but you’ll get one when you apply for —

  • an extension / replacement of a U.K. visa
  • “limited leave to remain” in the U.K. which adds up to 6 months’ leave in total
  • “indefinite leave to remain” in the U.K. (leave to “settle” in the U.K.)
  • a Convention Travel Document
  • a Stateless Person’s Travel Document
  • a Certificate of Travel

(This doesn’t apply to Irish nationals (who don’t need a visa), or EU / Icelandic / Liechtenstein / Norwegian / Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the U.K.)

The Home Office will normally issue your BRP in the same name as on your passport.  If you want to change your BRP to be in your new name, the Home Office will expect you to update your passport to be in your new name first.

You can only use a different name on your BRP — from what’s on your passport — if —

  • you’re a recognised refugee or stateless person
  • you’ve been granted humanitarian protection and it’s officially accepted that you cannot approach the authorities in your country of origin
  • you’re transgender and your country of origin doesn’t recognise changes to your name and/or gender
  • you’d be at risk of harm unless your name is changed, e.g. owing to you being a victim of crime (such as domestic violence) or a vulnerable witness
  • there are other exceptional circumstances that would seriously and adversely affect your life in the U.K. unless your name is changed

If one of these conditions applies to you, you can change your name (by deed poll) and update your BRP.  You should update your BRP within 3 months of changing your name, or else you may be fined up to £ 1,000 or have your stay shortened.

Otherwise — although you may apply for a deed poll — if you don’t update your passport (and BRP) to be in your new name, you’ll be ‘also known as’ the new name — it won’t be a legal change of name ‘for all purposes’.

You should also bear in mind that —

  • You’ll need to travel in and out of the U.K. in your old name (as shown on your passport).
  • You may find it more difficult updating records in the U.K. to be in your new name.
  • It may be more difficult using your passport as proof of your identity (seeing as it’ll still show your old name), although you’ll often be able to use it together with your deed poll.
  • If you apply to become a British citizen, your naturalisation certificate will be issued in the same name as on your passport.  However, you’ll still be able to apply for a British passport in your new name.
Foreign nationals resident outside the U.K.

As a foreign national resident outside the U.K., you should normally use the process in your country of nationality, or the country where you’re resident.  A deed poll is meant for use in the U.K., and may not be acceptable as proof of your change of name.

If you have a specific need for a U.K. deed poll, then we’re happy to prepare one for you.  However, we cannot guarantee that it’ll be accepted as proof of your change of name.

Do you need to prove a past change of name?

You only need to fill in this section if:

  • you’ve lost your child’s deed poll / statutory declaration and you need a replacement
  • youyour child had yourtheir name changed in the past and you need proof

If you do need to prove a past change of name, we’ll prepare a retroactive deed poll or statutory declaration for you.  There’s an additional fee of £ 7.00 for this service.

Note: As part of this service, we may recommend that we prepare you a statutory declaration, instead of a deed poll.  A statutory declaration is a very similar document to a deed poll, but it needs to be witnessed by a solicitor.  If this is the case, we’ll discuss this with you before preparing your documents.

Please note that there’s a small fee for having a statutory declaration witnessed (payable to the solicitor) which is not included in our fee.

and — if known —

Note: Fill in the date to the best of your knowledge (an estimate is fine if you’re not sure).
You can leave the month and day empty if you don’t know it.

Note: If you’re now known by your married name (or your civil partner’s name), and you want to change your name (e.g. to your birth / maiden name), then you don’t need to prove a past change of name — please select “no, I want to make a new change of name” (above).
Parental responsibility

For someone to change your name, theyTo change a child’s name, you must have consent from everyone with parental responsibility.  The following questions will work out who’s got parental responsibility for youyour child.

Note that this is not an authoritative decision on who has parental responsibility — there may be other people who have parental responsibility for youyour child.  For more information, see our guide on parental responsibility.

☞ YourThe adoptive parents as appointed by the parental order each have birth mother has parental responsibility

Note: If yourthe mother was married to a woman at this time, please answer “no”

Note: If yourthe mother was married to a woman at this time, please answer “no”

Note: If the answer is “no” but you don’t want to say, you can just answer “yes”

☞ YourThe father has parental responsibility YourThe mother’s husband at the time she became pregnantof birth is legally presumed to be yourthe father and to have parental responsibility — however, he won’t have parental responsibility if it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father

☞ YourThe father is legally recognised as such, but he won’t have parental responsibility unless he has acquired it in some other way YourThe mother’s husband at the time she became pregnant is legally presumed to be yourthe father, but he won’t have parental responsibility unless he has acquired it in some other way — and he won’t be recognised as yourthe father if it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father YourThe mother’s husband at the time she became pregnantof birth is legally presumed to be yourthe father and to have parental responsibility unless it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father YourThe mother’s husband at the time of birth is legally presumed to be yourthe father and to have parental responsibility unless it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father YourThe mother’s husband at the time she became pregnant is legally presumed to be yourthe father unless it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father — but he won’t have parental responsibility unless he has acquired it in some other way

☞ YourThe mother’s husband at that time is yourthe legal father and has parental responsibility

☞ YourThe mother’s husband at that time is yourthe legal father

☞ YourThe mother’s civil partner or wife at the time is youra legal parent (yourthe second female parent) and has parental responsibility

☞ YourThe mother’s husband at the time of birth is yourthe legal father and has parental responsibility

☞ The man that received fertility treatment services together with yourthe mother is yourthe legal father

☞ YourThe mother’s husband at the time of birth is yourthe legal father and has parental responsibility

☞ The man woman that made the formal agreement with yourthe mother is yourthe legal father youra legal parent (yourthe second female parent)

☞ YourThe second female parent has parental responsibility

☞ YourThe The man registered as yourthe father has may have parental responsibility, even if it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father and he is removed from yourthe birth registration, or yourthe biological father’s details are added

☞ The man registered as yourthe father is legally presumed to be yourthe father and to have parental responsibility, unless it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father

☞ YourThe The man registered as yourthe father has may have parental responsibility, even if it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father and he is removed from yourthe birth registration, or yourthe biological father’s details are added

☞ The man registered as yourthe father is legally presumed to be yourthe father and to have parental responsibility, unless it’s proven that he isn’t yourthe biological father

☞ YourThe second female parent father has parental responsibility

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☞ YourThe father or second female parent or step-parent(s) each have parental responsibility

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Note: You only need to tell us about orders that are still in force (that haven’t come to an end yet)

Note: These types of order all give parental responsibility to a local authority (a council)

☞ The local authority (council) which was awarded the order will have parental responsibility

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(e.g. “step-father”)

Note: This doesn’t apply to yourthe mother or anyone who already had parental responsibility — we’re trying to find out if anyone else was given parental responsibility

☞ Anyone awarded an order has parental responsibility

☞ Each of your guardiansguardian has parental responsibility

☞ Each of your guardiansguardian has parental responsibility

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Note: YourThe child’s mother or father can’t be appointed a special guardian

☞ Each of your special guardiansspecial guardian has parental responsibility

☞ Prospective adopters may have parental responsibility while you arethe child is placed with them

No-one with parental responsibility

It is not clear if anyone has parental responsibility in this case.  The court should appoint someone to be your guardianthe guardian of the child, and until that point no-one can change yourthe child’s name without leave of the court.

People who have (or may have) parental responsibilityresponsibilities and rights
  • yourthe surviving adoptive parents
  • yourthe mother
  • yourthe father
  • yourthe second female parent
  • the man registered as yourthe father on the original birth registration
  • anyone who entered into a parental responsibility agreement with yourthe parents
  • the local authority looking after youthe child
  • anyone who the court gave parental responsibility through an order
  • yourthe appointed guardian(s)
  • yourthe appointed special guardian(s)
  • yourthe prospective adopter(s)

Note: Once someone’s got parental responsibilityresponsibilities and rights, they can’t lose it, transfer it, or give itthem, transfer them, or give them up — even if they’ve gone to prison, or had no contact with youthe child for many years.  It can only be lost if a court takes itThey can only be lost if a court takes them away.

Consent needs to be sought forYou need to get consent to your child’s change of name according to the law of the country (or countries) which you arethe child is a national of

As you areyour child isn’t a British national, we cannot work out who needs to give consent to your child’s change of name.

Even if you liveyour child lives in the U.K., the question of whether your child’s name can and should be changed needs to be resolved according to the law of the country (or countries) which you’rethey’re a national of.

In the U.K., important decisions about youa child can only be taken by those who have “parental responsibility” for youthe child.  In other countries, “parental responsibility” might not exist as a concept, but the law may talk about “custody”, “guardianship”, “residence”, and “parental rights” — which are things which are included in the concept of “parental responsibility” in the U.K.

Usually, yourthe child’s mother and father should both give their consent, as well as any legal guardian of the child, and anyone who has custody of youthe child.  However, if you’re in any doubt about who should give consent, you should seek the advice of a solicitor.

You must try to make contact first, and ask for consentconsult them

It’s unlawful for your name to be changedto change your child’s name without consent from everyone with parental responsibility — even if they haven’t had any contact with youyour child for several yearsconsulting with everyone with parental responsibilities and rights — as far as practical — and taking their views into account.

There are a number of ways you can get in touch with someone again.

If you still can’t find them, you’ll need to apply for a court order (or wait until you areyour child is 16 so they can change their own name).

☞ Find out more about your options If all practical steps have been takenyou’ve taken all practical steps to get in touch with them, but you haven’t been able to — your name can be changedyou can change your child’s name without their consent.

You cannot change your child’s name without consent

It’s unlawful to change your child’s name without consent from everyone with parental responsibility.

If you want to change their name regardless, you’ll need to apply for a court order (or wait until you areyour child is 16 so they can change their own name).

☞ Find out more about your options

You cannot change your child’s name without consent

Your child’s name is subject to the law of the country (or countries) which they’re a national of.  You must get the necessary consent to change your child’s name from yourthe parents / guardians who need to give consent according to the law of that country.

If you want to change their name regardless, you’ll need to follow the relevant procedures in the country which you areyour child is a national of, which may mean starting court proceedings in that country.  You cannot normally start proceedings in the U.K.  Alternatively, you can wait until you areyour child is legally an adult, so they can change their own name.

Your sex andThe child’s sex and currentformer name
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 — to — 

Note: Enter yourthe child’s former first name and all middle names

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CurrentFormer name as it will be shown on the deed poll
YourThe child’s newcurrent name

Note: Enter yourthe child’s newcurrent first name and all middle names (even if you want them to staythey’ve stayed the same)

Note: If you want to keep your surname the same as before, just fill in the same surname again

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NewCurrent name as it will be shown on the deed poll
Change of gender / title

We can also add a change of gender and/or change of title declaration on your deed poll, for no extra charge.

If you want to keep the gender / title you already use, then please just select “no”.

You can only change to one of the titles listed here (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, or Mx).  If you want to adopt another title (e.g. Dr) you would just need to show proof (when required) that you can legitimately use that title (e.g. your degree).

 — to — 

Note: Non-binary genders are not yet legally recognised in the U.K. and you can only apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate if you assume either the male or female genders.  If you choose “neither male nor female”, we will show this on your deed poll as “a gender which is neither the male nor the female gender”.  In our opinion this is the most prudent way of expressing and declaring your wishes, without declaring a gender which has not yet been legally recognised, but nevertheless allowing for (and looking forward to) the future when this may happen.

 and — if known —  

Note: Fill in the date to the best of your knowledge (an estimate is fine if you’re not sure).
You can leave the month and day empty if you don’t know it.

 — to — 

Note: If you want to keep the title you already use, or assume another title (e.g. “Dr” ) then please select “no”.  (Tell us about any professional / non-standard title you want in the “additional comments” below.)

What names you’reyour child is using on your records
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(please give more details below)

! Warning: As most of your child’s official documents and records are still in yourtheir former name, youthey’re probably going to need a new deed poll.

Your child’s legal name is simply the name theyyou’re commonly called and known by — especially for official purposes.

If you haven’t updated (most of) your child’s official documents and records to be in theiryour new name, it would mean that — legally speaking — theiryour name hasn’t changed yet, or that theyyou’re currently ‘also known as’ the new name.

Therefore we should (probably) do a new deed poll (proving a new change of name).

(A replacement deed poll would declare that your child hasyou’ve been known by theiryour new name for all purposes since a specified date — which, after all, isn’t really the case.)

! Warning: As most of your child’s official documents and records are in another name (not yourtheir current name), we’ll need to know why this is the case.

Please give as many details as you can, to help us understand your situation, in the “further details” section (below).

If you’ve changed your child’s name more than once

If you’ve changed your child’s name more than once, we’ll need to prepare a replacement deed poll / statutory declaration proving every change of name that’s been madeyou’ve made, up till the present.

So you’ll need to provide details of every change of name, going back to the change of name that you really need to prove — including any change of name by court order,marriage, divorce, deed poll, or otherwise.

There’s no extra charge for doing theyour document like this — the fee you pay is per person.

☞ Please fill in the form with your child’s most recent change of name, and then give details of any earlier changes of name in the “further details” section (below).

For example — suppose you needed to prove your child’s change of name from Alex SMITH to Billy SMITH — but their name has since been changedyou’ve since changed your name from Billy SMITH to Charlie SMITH.  In that case you should —

  • fill in theiryour “former name” as Billy SMITH
  • fill in theiryour “current name” as Charlie SMITH
  • then give the details of theiryour change of name from Alex SMITH to Billy SMITH in the “further details” section (below)

☞ Remember to give the date of each change of name, to the best of your knowledge.

(please give more details below)
(please give more details below)

! Warning: As your child’s driving licence / passport is still in yourtheir former name, youthey’re probably going to need a new deed poll.

Your child’s current legal name is the name youthey use generally, and particularly on official forms of ID.  The DVLA / Passport Office will therefore consider yourtheir change of name to be a new change of name.

So please consider carefully your answer above (that is — whether you need to prove a change of name that happened in the past).

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(e.g. “France”)

Note: If you’re known by your current name for all purposes, these checkboxes should all be left empty (not ticked)

Your home addressDetails of parent / guardian applying on the child’s behalfThe mother’s detailsThe father’s detailsThe second female parent’s detailsThe originally registered father’s detailsDetails of parent applying on the child’s behalfThe adoptive parent’s detailsThe step-parent’s detailsDetails of guardian applying on the child’s behalfDetails of special guardian applying on the child’s behalfDetails of local authority applying on the child’s behalf
Only the mother the father the second female parent the man registered as the father on the original birth certificate one of the adoptive parents the surviving adoptive parent one of the step-parents with parental responsibility one of the appointed guardians one of the appointed special guardians the local authority looking after the child can change the child’s name.  He She They It Enter the details of someone who has parental responsibility for the child.  They will have to sign the deed poll on the child’s behalf.
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Enter your main home address.the special guardian’s main home addressthe mother’s main home addressthe father’s main home addressthe second female parent’s main home addressthe originally registered father’s main home addressthe adoptive parent’s main home addressthe prospective adopter’s main home addressthe guardian’s main home addressthe step-parent’s main home addressthe grandparent’s main home addressthe aunt / uncle’s main home addressthe brother / sister’s main home addressthe foster parent’s main home addressthe main address of the local authoritythe main home address of the person with parental responsibilitythe mother’s main home addressthe father’s main home addressthe second female parent’s main home addressthe originally registered father’s main home addressthe adoptive parent’s main home addressthe adoptive parent’s main home addressthe guardian’s main home addressthe step-parent’s main home addressthe special guardian’s main home addressthe main address of the local authority — it doesn’t matter if the child lives at a different address.

This is usually the same address that’s on official documents such as your driving licence and bank statements, but this isn’t a crucial factor.

If you’re homeless and living in temporary accommodation (e.g. a long term hostel), use that address.

If you’re a long term patient in a psychiatric hospital, use the address of the hospital.

If you’re a prisoner on long term remand, use the address of the prison.

Miscellaneous information

These are other things we need to know that may affect the document we prepare for you.

Most people will leave all these checkboxes empty.

Note: You cannot be treated as “unable” to make a decision just because you need help to make or communicate your decision

Making a decision on behalf of another person (to change their name)

The person making the decision to change your name will need to sign your deed poll on your behalf.  We’ll make clear in the instructions we send you how the document has to be signed.

When you update your records and documents to be in your new name, you’ll need to show proof of that person’s authorisation to make decisions on your behalf (e.g. a copy of the Power of Attorney or the Court of Protection order).

The person acting on your behalf must make sure that:

  • they’re authorised to make a decision about your change of name (which will be a decision about your welfare)
  • any other people authorised to make decisions for you has agreed to the change of name, if they’ve been appointed “jointly”
You’ve probably answered a question wrong

If you can make your own decision about changing your name, you should untick the box above (“Are youIs the parent / guardian unable to make yourtheir own decision about changing yourtheir child’s name?”)

Someone needs to be authorised to make a decision for you

You need to either have the capacity to make a decision about your change of your name yourself, or have someone else (or a court) make the decision for you.  If you don’t have capacity, then this person will have to be appointed by a court.

Bear in mind that you cannot be treated as “unable” to make a decision just because you need help to make or communicate your decision.  Before anyone makes a decision on your behalf, they must try all practicable steps to help you make your own decision and then to communicate what you’ve decided (whether by human or mechanical means).

Note: This person will sign your deed poll on your behalf

Note: If there’s another person who’s been authorised to make decisions for you, and they’re acting jointly, please include their full name(s) and address(es) in the “additional comments” section (below)

Note: This could be because you’rethe parent / guardian is illiterate, or unable to read because of dyslexia, blindness, or another physical illness / disability, or unable to understand written English

Note: You’ll be responsible for making any enlargement or translated copy of the deed poll — we cannot provide it for you

Note: You don’t have to actually sign your name — you can put any kind of initial or mark on the document, using your hand, foot, mouth, or otherwise

Note: This doesn’t apply to pharmacists registered only in Northern Ireland or outside the U.K.

(please give the full name)
Data processing consent

When you make an application with us, we use your personal data to prepare your documents and give you personalised advice to do with your change of name.

We don’t need to ask for your explicit consent to use your personal data, because otherwise we wouldn’t be able to fulfil our contract with you.

However this doesn’t permit us to (and we will never) —

We must have a legal basis in order toyour consent before we can process youryour child’s personal data.

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time (which you can do by sending us an e-mail or letter, or by ringing our helpline).  However, if you withdraw your consent, we won’t be able to prepare your documents or give you personalised advice.

We will never —

  • use your personal data for any other purpose
  • share your personal data with anyone else (unless we have to by law)
  • keep your personal data for any longer than we need to

i Read our full privacy policy for more information

i Read our full privacy policy for more information

Additional comments
Please use this space to provide any additional information or comments that may help us in processing your application.
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