Turned away from 3 solicitors regarding deed poll

[GirlWithTheLionHeart]

So, I printed out the correct documents off gov.uk to add a forename to my sons name and it needs to be signed by a solicitor. Went to 3 separate sooicitors today with the forms, two said they weren't familiar enough and the other said it would cost £250 to do it and be advertised in the London Gazette.

Any advice? Really need it done soon before I get ds' first passport,

That's nonsense about the London Gazette. The only issue is whether you have your son's father's permission (if he has parental responsibility).

Where are you, I may be able to recommend someone who will charge you about £15 just to witness your signature, which is all that's required.

cost me £20 to do mine all online - is it more because he is under 18 and more paperwork?

Where are you? I do the, from time to time. Usually charge £75

I'm in north london. I have fathers permission. I thought that guy was talking nonsense!

Any help with this would be gratefully received!

If you don't like the online options and you're in North London have you considered The Legal Cafe?

That's v cool

If your child is under one year you can just change his name at the registry office. No need for deed poll.

It's free for adults to change their name, I'm not sure that you would have to pay for children??? Google free deed poll.

Just googled, it is free if both parents with parental responsibility agree. Please don't pay for this free service.

You can do it for free. I did mine and didn't pay a penny. It has been accepted by my bank, all the utility companies, tax credits and my driving licence and passport.
Google free deed poll and get two friends to sign it.

The mistake most people make is in referring to it as deed poll. That is archaic and expensive. You need a basic change of name deed and the consent, for a minor, of all those with parental responsibility. You also need either enough certified copies (certified by a solicitor) or enough originals to send to whoever needs to get one.

collaborate

They don't need to be verified by a solicitor. Just print them off on standard A4 paper get two friends to sign them. (You don't even need two you can normally use one) and you're done.

Mine and my son's have been excepted everywhere passport, banks, etc

Can someone recommend a site they used? I read that there are fake ones out there that charge.

Why does gov.uk say I have to do those 4 forms then ? V confusing!

Mine cost £17 online a few years ago. Would you be able to do that?

The paperwork you have is for enrolling a Deed Poll with the Royal Courts of Justice. Given that you have the father's permission to change the child's name, there is no require to enroll a Deed Poll. You can simply apply online at www.thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk

Google free deed poll. There is also a Guardian article that comes up, it's very informative.

I used UK Deed Poll Service. There are cheaper ones out there but this one offered things we wanted easily (e.g. certified copies and archiving) and, crucially, we knew someone else who had used it so knew it wasn't a fake site.

Why use a 'cheaper' one if it can be done for free?

As I said Not, we wanted the ability to easily get certified copies, which unfortunately meant paying a bit of money. This was mainly because we wanted one that was more likely to be accepted without argument by various institutions. What is legal and what is always accepted are not the same thing.

But the free one is legal and accepted everywhere. UK passport, driving licence, university, crb, tax credits, child benefit, various banks, credit card, water, gas, electric, virgin media, student finance, that's all I can think of who have accepted mine. I am genuinely baffled as to why you would pay for a free service?

I went to that free one but it doesn't give an option to change a minors name?

I used This one And just adjusted it to be filled in the details for my son. Here, copy this into word fill in where stated and print and hand out. Don;

Deed of Change of Name

BY THIS DEED OF CHANGE OF NAME made by myself the undersigned INSERT NAME of INSERT ADDRESS on behalf of YOUR SONS NEW NAME of YOUR ADDRESS formerly known as SONS 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 abandoned the use of my son’s 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 of 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 son’s name in substitution for his former name of INSERT OLD NAME so relinquished as aforesaid to the intent that he 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 time to designate, describe and address my son by the adopted name of INSERT NEW NAME

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto subscribed my son’s adopted and substituted name of INSERT NEW NAME

SIGNED BY HIS MOTHER INSERT YOUR NAME ON BEHALF OF INSERT SONS NEW NAME AS A DEED THIS 16TH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR 2014

By the above named Witnessed by
YOUR NAME FRIEND NAME
ADDRESS ADDRESS

This was accepted by my doctors, schools, passport office, etc.

yousay, did you have to have it signed by your son's father too?

I'm the only one with PR so no I just filled it and and use it.

However the deedpoll has to be accepted if it was filled in and dated before the childs father got PR as before than you were the only one with it and don't have to consult anyone about it.

If he has PR now you need a covering note which is signed, dated and witnessed with the fathers address full name on the letter (passport office requires phone number) stating he agrees to the name change from his former name to his new name to go with the deedpoll which just you sign and get witnessed (if you can get it witnessed by two people) and some places also require him to counter sign it with you and have the on or two people witness it