15yo legal name change (for preference)

[jen337]

DD15 doesn’t like her name and wants to change it. She’s been saying this for years and most people already know her by her ‘preferred’ name. We support her in this. What’s the best way to go about this legally as I’m a bit confused about the options of an enrolled or unenrolled deed poll and whether to do it as parents before she’s 16 or let her do it herself when she’s 16-17 (but before 18)?

Where are you from?

If everyone with PR agrees then it can be done under 16 in England. In Scotland you don’t need a deed poll to change your name (though some people chose to have one as it’s easier).

Unenrolled deed polls work for most things you need. The main difference is the enrolled one is noticed in the Gazette (so lists new and old names) and (depending on how unusual your name is) is easily googled. It also shows your address, or certainly used to, I didn’t enroll mine for that reason.

Do make sure she’s aware though that there are occasions where she’ll have to list her old name on forms. Not millions and not super often, but you can’t just pretend it didn’t exist. My like of work, for example, requires DBS checks and you have to add it. And for anything that requires a birth cert you need to send both the birth cert and deed poll.

i couldn’t change mine before 16 (my grandparents weren’t aware they could go to court for it as my father refused) so it was a pain with my exam certificates so if you’re sure she’s going to do it doing it in time to have all her school stuff in her new name is a good idea.

@JustAnotherWhinger thanks! We’re in England. Looks like the unenrolled poll is the way to go.
From what I can see for parents to make an unenrolled deed poll involves a solicitor or agency, but she can do it herself without any of that once she’s 16? By writing a statement and getting it signed and witnessed? Is this right?

Thanks that a good reason for doing it sooner, she’ll be doing gcses in May 27. I’ll have to check with the school when and which name they register her under for the exams.

Just a comment. GCSEs are in your legal name. So if y10 you could change now and certificates will show new name which may make life simpler.

If y11 then entries already done.

Even Y11 it's not too late, but would be an amendment by the examining board. We managed to get DD sorted in a last minute panic when we realised that the school had omitted the name she goes by from the exam entry (we wanted her full legal name on the certificate just as my sons' school had done automatically, but DD's school had entered her as 1st name, 2nd initial, last name when her 2nd name is the one she now goes by).

Just make sure you keep all the paper work super secure. There isn’t a data base so you can’t just request a new certificate. It caused some issues when I was trying to get my marriage license.

Thanks for all the replies. I think the unenrolled deed poll is the best option for us. Don’t know if I’m being thick but I’m still struggling to figure out how to do it. If she waits till she’s 16+ she can just diy it by writing a statement and getting it witnessed, right? But if we do it sooner (makes sense for gcse certs) then we need to get a solicitor/pay someone to do it for us? Or can we (parents) just write out a statement and get it witnessed? Confused! And is the gov.uk online form only for enrolled deed polls?

As I understand it, enrolled deed polls are on a central public register so if you lose it you can always get another copy. Unenrolled ones aren't registered anywhere so if you lose the paperwork it can cause problems if you need to prove your name.