Can someone explain to me in the very simplest terms how to change my last name by deed poll?

[Cadela]

Not married or anything, just want to change it to my step-dad’s.

I have googled and googled and I must be having a very stupid day because it makes no sense? I don’t want to pay a company to do it if I don’t need to!

If you want to legally be recognised by your new name then you need to apply for an enrolled deed poll - you fill in all the forms both the deed poll and the gazette form and send to the royal courts of justice. Costs just under £50 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-change-your-name-forms-loc020-loc021-and-loc025

You also need someone to verify it which is a different form someone else needs to complete

Once you have all those three documents you send it off and then wait for the deed to come through.

It's explained just here. Cost will depend on the version you need:

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

I had to it get my deedpoll re-done at a solicitors for £120, but that was over 20 years ago now.

You technically do not need a deed poll to change your name but it is impossible to get names changed on legal documents without one.

You can also do a free deed poll which lots of places do accept.

My daughter paid for one online for £10 or similar cost which she then got witnessed and has changed everything needed (passport/driving license/bank etc.) It is no different legally to the free one but because it comes as a fancy stamped certificate they do take more notice of it.

You can make a non enrolled one yourself for free and it’s still legal. You don’t have to pay.

You can do it online now.

This company will do it and explain the whole process for you:

https://www.deedpoll.org.uk

Decent price too.

It's free. You only have to pay if you want someone doing the easy work for you (like filling in a passport form)
I used this website 8 years ago, it takes 5 minutes https://freedeedpoll.org.uk/

Fill in your details, print out a few copies and get 2 witnesses to sign them. If you have a few copies with ink signatures (rather than photocopies of one) you have spares in case the original gets lost. The bank lost one of mine so the spares came in handy.

DVLA and passport office have official forms for changing your name- they'll want copies with ink signatures. Everyone else (bank, GP, bills etc)- write or email to them and send a copy of the deed poll (or one of your 'originals' if you have spare)

I changed mine 15 years ago. Paid £9.99 and the whole thing was done online. I then paid £25 to a solicitor to verify it before changing my passport (which was really just them putting a stamp at the back and signing it, took 5 minutes)
I believe this is the company I used. I can see it has gone up in price but is still under £20
https://www.ukdeedpolloffice.org/

Don't worry about the whole "unenrolled/enrolled" business. The only time I was asked for a certified deed poll was when applying for a passport.