Have you changed yr name legally , how long did it take and how did you do it?

[Molly333]

Hello myself and my children want to change our surname ( dad hasn't bothered with them since babies, they are both ovet 16) . Have you done this ? How much does it cost and how was it done and how quick? Thanks lovelies

Rather than change by deed poll I changed by statutory declaration and typed up my own documents (A4 page) which I then just had witnessed and stamped by a solicitor. It cost me £10.00 but that was in the early 80s!

Statutory declaration states that you relinquish and renounce the use of your previous name and to use your new name.

www.legalnature.co.uk/guides/deed-poll-vs-statutory-declaration-benefits-of-a-deed-poll

Deed poll is free - it is simply evidence of the name that you now use to present to banks etc.

New passport and driving licence are the only real costs.

It takes as long as you spend writing to / filling out the online forms to update everywhere. It's easier if you start by making a list of everything that needs to be updated.

www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll

There isn't any such thing as a legal name in the UK, only the name you are known by. Anyone can choose to be known by any name (so long as not for fraudulent purposes etc).

A deed poll is just evidence of the name you use. You can complete and print off yourself then get it signed and correctly witnessed by someone who is not a relative.

That's it. You don't need to pay for one.

As above, it's free to change your name. You could literally declare it scribbled on a napkin and witnessed by two friends.

The time consuming bit is getting documents changed but we found doing the bank first followed by a new passport (needed anyway) made changing everything else very easy.