How do you change your name when you don't have anyone to sign?

[TheSunIsAlwaysThere]

I've lived in my house less than two years so I don't have anyone here who has known me for ten years. I've seen a solicitor today and I'd have to find two people who could go to the solicitors with me. If they can come they haven't known me long enough, and if they have they are housebound. Any ideas please as I am desperate to change my name and I applied ten months ago but they kept emailing saying I've sent the wrong stuff. I hadn't and that been cleared up but I'm still stuck.

Solicitor's given you the wrong info.

I did mine by statutory declaration (and I did use a solicitor), no witnesses required. No problem changing my passport or driving licence.

You don't need an enrolled deed poll.

You really don’t need it enrolled. Strictly speaking, all you need to do to change your name is start using it. It’s just organisations want written evidence, hence the deed poll.

Looks like you’ve paid for and started the process for the enrolled deed poll, which is both unnecessary and expensive.

That is what I did. I paid under £60. I have contacted them to say about the issue with having no one to be witnessed signing in a solicitors office but it will be at least two weeks before I hear back.

So the first form will do, get two people to sign it then use that as proof to get the first bit of official ID in my name?

The LOC020 form is only if you want to enrol, so I wouldn’t use that if you want to use the simple deed poll with two witnesses.

There are lots of free templates online that you can use but you really don’t need to be paying anything for it.

I don’t think it’s fair to say your solicitor is wrong - sounds like you’ve paid have started the process for enrolled deed poll so that’s the advice they are giving you.

I agree @FountainCourted She was concerned that it said this is not an enrolled deed until it is sealed in the high court, so she didn't think it would be accepted anyway.

I would stop everything and start again. Forget the solicitor and forget whatever you are in the middle of.

Get the free form I linked to, and two people. You don’t need to send anything anywhere unless eg your water company and bank and people like that want you to send them a copy. Some people don’t need it (eg tax credits for me just did it over the phone) and some want to see it (eg water, gas/electric for me). Thats it.

The one thing I will say is that I printed out ten copies of the form (and the two people signed all ten copies) so I could send them to people who wanted them at once, and not everyone sent them back. So now I’m down to three. Keep them safe, you might need them in the future.

I have by some miracle managed to get two people who have known me forever to sign the forms. On the advice of the lady at deed poll this morning is have also written a covering inter, which all three of us have signed, to state everything and explain the issues. I'll send it tomorrow and then if that dies work, I'll cancel this application and then go with what you've all said. I wish I'd thought to ask on here first!

I have photographed everything and printed copies off.

Thank you.

If that doesn't work..

@NoCommentingFromNowOn . I completely missed your link so I have gone back and seen it. Took me no time at all to fill it all in so I have it done. It seems to make sense to cancel the other one and try and get my money back. Thank you again.

I changed everything with a change of name template I downloaded online, got 2 friends to sign it. Driving licence, passport, bank, doctors etc. No doubt your solicitor is charging a significant sum for this transaction?

You don't need an enrolled deed.

Solicitor didn't charge me anything as she said she doesn't do it and also couldn't be sure about a lot of things related. I rang five other solicitors today and they either didn't do it or wouldn't as I've not used them before.

@NoCommentingFromNowOn if I do your one, do I just send the signed sheet off to the driving licence people, and then use my licence for those that won't accept an unenrolled one to change my name?

There isn't a government deed poll service. Sorry but you are being conned.

I did mine myself, got a couple of people in work to witness it. I suggest you use really good paper and a sensible font (It's amazing how official this looks) and get the signatories to give you original signatures on each copy, I'd suggest maybe three.

I sent mine off to the passport office, woman at the post office tried to sell me insurance for my valuable documents.

I did driving licence and passport first as I was worried I would need more proof then just the deed poll, I didn’t, literally every service and company just accepted the deed poll. But if you do it, it’s good to have in the back pocket just incase.

This isn't genuine?

That is genuine, click the make your own section, copy the template

I changed my whole name without going near a solicitor. I used the UK Deed Poll service. As far as I remember, I filled in a form online, I got some paperwork back to be signed by a witness, I sent the completed forms off, and then worked my way through changing my passport, name to go on my graduation certificate, driving licence and so on.

Good luck, OP! There is nothing worse than introducing yourself by a name that you don't like, and it's one of those annoying things that you can't hide. It's lovely when you can finally feel pleased about how fantastic your name is!

It is genuine, but you don't need to send them money.

I know several people who have changed their name, and none have paid a penny. Get two people to sign, use your unenrolled deed poll to get a driving licence or passport, take your new ID to the bank.

The photo one I've posted wanted money to do it. I expected to have to pay a government body. I'm really starting to wonder whether I should just get the link @NoCommentingFromNowOn shared signed and try and use that and cancel the other if it works.

@NoCommentingFromNowOn one will work or you can use the free template on the gov site you’ve screenshotted, both are the same thing essentially, no money required.

So why have they charged me then?

To change my driving licence I need to get a D1 form from the post office. This could be an issue as we have the tiniest post office and I'm not sure they have any forms!

You've chosen to fill in extra, optional forms and send them off, which you have to pay for.

You can instead use the free, official form on the same page you screenshotted.

Because you tried to do an enrolled one, you don’t need to though, just do the free unenrolled one.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder
you can check what services your post office has and if they do dvla forms

Wishing again I'd just come on here and asked you lot!

just found a D1 form. Partly filled in so I'll have to sort that but can I apply for a new driving licence in my new name and enclose the deed poll that @NoCommentingFromNowOn linked and get one that way please?

Thank you @rutap , good to know.