Changing surname by deedpoll

[cjt110]

Has anyone done this? I'm reading the gov.uk website and if I'm correct, you'd need to draft a document, renouncing your old name in favour of your new name and have it signed by two witnesses.

Is it really that easy and simple to do?

Yep, that’s all I did. So far, everyone has accepted it, bank, employers, driving license, passport.
Utilities didn’t generally ask for evidence of a name change (mine was just surname not first) so I think they mostly assumed I had got married/divorced.
Suggest you get multiple copies signed, as you don’t always get them back when you send in via post, or you may want to send off to more than one place at a time.

Yep, it's cheap and easy. The boring bit is telling everyone, bills, tax, passport etc.

Yep it’s that easy.

Yep. The next stage, updating all your documents and supplier details, is the arduous bit!

Thanks all. It seemed to easy to be true!

I have! I needed to change DD's surname too though so went via a solicitor who made it all very easy. Far more difficult was updating benefits/tax credits etc...

Does anyone know if there are any rules surrounding who can be witness? For example when signing a passport photo they cant be related and have to be of a certain profession....

Or can it be anyone?

I used this - www.deedpoll.org.uk/ - you get a certificate which you need to send off for changing your name on important documents. It was also needed for changing bank accounts, etc.

I keep a scan of it on a USB stick in my bag in case I ever need it.

When I looked into it, it was someone you'd known for 10 years, not related, and owned a house, which is why I went via solicitor because no one I know meets those conditions.

Purplelass how much does it cost? I have looked the the site and can't seem to see how much!

Rixera Thank you. I think that may be the case here. May I ask how much it cost via a solicitor?

When I did it, you didn’t need to use another company, “register it” anywhere, or pay a fee. No company or organisation has ever asked me for an “enrolled” deed poll. The gov uk website specifically states that you don’t need this for your passport or driving license. So be wary of paying money you don’t need to.
I used two friends that had known me for ten years, no specific professions.

Purplelass how much does it cost?

It wasn't cheap, about £50, but I was desperate for some closure and the divorce was taking forever to go through!

It's for my Mum and I don't think she knows anyone of 10 years...

Please use this free site, you shouldn't pay to change your name.

freedeedpoll.org.uk

It was £150 Inc VAT for the two of us but it included him registering DD's with the council/enrolling as apparently that is needed in our local council for school places. Pricey but I needed the guarantee of it being done right for her school & my uni, and it really was quick and easy.

Get 10 printed like a pp says, I'm reduced to three left out of 10.

Just use any paper, whatever your printer already has.

You should just be able to do it by deedpoll. My friend changed her daughters surname after leaving an abusive relationship, eg: her DD was Anna Smith Jones (both parents surnames) and had it changed just to Anna Smith.

If you are married you need consent from your husband...

(I want to change my name as separated but no intentions of divorcing in the short term)

The gov site doesn’t say it has to be witnessed by someone who has known you for ten years, it just needs to be someone who knows you well (I.E. not some random personage you’ve bumped into on the street!).

*Incrediblesulk
*
Regard the consent from an exH. I've not seen this requirement before. Where did you hear/ see this ?

Seems a bit odd to permission from my exH to change my name 😀

If you are married you need consent from your husband no you don't.

Also, the witnesses just need to be non relatives who know you.

It shouldn't cost you anything to change it - I googled suitable wording and then just printed it off myself. I got a couple of friends to witness it (I've known them for years but it doesn't record how long I've known them on the document so could be anyone)

I'm sure I've got the wording somewhere. I'll have a look.

BY THIS DEED OF CHANGE OF NAME made by myself the undersigned [insert new name here] of
[insert address] formerly known as
[insert old name], a British Citizen under section 37(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981
HEREBY DECLARE AS FOLLOWS:
I. I ABSOLUTELY and entirely renounce, relinquish and abandon the use of my said former name
[insert old name] and assume, adopt and determine to take and use from the date hereof the
name of [insert new name] in substitution for my former name of [insert old name]
II. I SHALL AT ALL TIMES hereafter in all records, deeds documents and other writings and in all
actions and proceedings as well as in all dealings and transactions and on all occasions whatsoever use and
subscribe the said name of [insert new name] as my name, in substitution for my former name of
[insert old name] so relinquished as aforesaid to the intent that I may hereafter be called known
or distinguished not by the former name of [insert old name] but by the name [insert new name]
III. I AUTHORISE AND REQUIRE all persons at all times to designate, describe, and address me by
the adopted name of [insert new name]
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto subscribed my adopted and substituted name of [insert new name] and also my said former name of [insert old name]
SIGNED AS A DEED THIS ?? DAY OF ?? IN THE YEAR ????

I got mine done by a solicitor too. I wanted it all done without any hassle. Cost £50 and I was asked how many copies I wanted - I had 5. I found if you inform HMRC first everything flows through them, so passport office will check if you're registered under HMRC with your new name as confirmation before they issue a new passport, same with social security etc.