Name change deed poll - anyone used the name change kit? Is it a time saver??

[IneedAniffler]

I've been thinking about legally changing my name my entire life, I have always hated it and its the name of an abusive person in the family as well. I have always gone by a different casual name that my parents gave me from birth (i know it's a long and stupid story) and want to finally release myself from this toxic part of my identity

Its never used but is on my passport, driving licence, medical records, degrees, everything

Will it cause problems applying for things if my birth certificate has the old name? I have an Irish passport and a UK one too

Pleaae help me if you've done this as I so want to just go for it

The Deed Poll overrides your birth certificate. You simply provide it as evidence when updating passports, drivers licence, medical records etc.

I did it at 18 and have never had an issue.

Oh that is reassuring- thank you!

Just do a free one. Don't pay it's a total rip off

What's the free one? I'm only just starting to look into it and obviously won't be messing with anything until after my holiday!

To change your name for free, follow the instructions at Change your name by deed poll: Make your own unenrolled deed poll - GOV.UK

Ah this still required you to pay to have it enrolled though and a lot of places require that

I think I'd rather pay for a full service that helps me change everything

Nowhere I've ever come across since doing mine required that.

No, it does not require you to pay to have it enrolled. You can have it enrolled if you want at a cost of £53.05, but you don't have to. And there are very few places that require an enrolled deed poll. My eldest son has an unenrolled deed poll and he has never had any problems. Everywhere has happily accepted his unenrolled deed poll - university, banks, credit card providers, passport office, DVLA, etc.

All you need to do is produce a document with the wording on the page to which I have linked and sign it in the presence of two witnesses. That's it. Once you have done that, you will have changed your legal name and it won't have cost you a penny.

My dh changed his name and he just printed off the words that were needed and signed it in front of witnesses. He didn't pay at any point. He's never had a scrap or bother with it.

My daughter changed hers following the instructions on .gov (above). We then applied for a new passport - they did require evidence that she is using her new name. Banks etc accepted the unenrolled deed poll. It does feel a little bit scary because it feels too easy and not quite 'formal' enough but it was absolutely fine.

I've changed my name officially five times (don't ask!) and never paid.

I changed my name using an unenrolled deed poll (the one you just print off the words from the government site, no companies involved). I’ve never had a problem with anyone not accepting it in the 6 years I’ve had my new name. The only problem company was our mortgage lender. The people in branch didn’t know what to do with it and were quite rude, but I just sent a complaints letter and they updated it for me.

This is it! It just feels a bit too easy!

You're quite right, it is too easy - far too easy. Most (obviously not all) people who change their name do so in order to evade responsibility for things they've done, or money they owe. Directors of dodgy companies do it in order to avoid detection and disqualification.

It should be made much more difficult, and at the very least there should be some form of central register, so that someone's previous names could be checked, but as things stand it is, as has been said, the simplest thing in the world, and you don't need to pay anyone, so you may as well take advantage of the laxness.

Thank you for asking this because I have also wanted to do this for years but am put off by all the admin. Sounds like it won't be as much of a bother as I think.

Yup, I changed my name by unenrolled deed poll after I got married (it wasn’t just a straightforward taking his surname / double barrelling where the marriage certificate is all you need) - I just printed one off and signed it in front of witnesses and have never had any issues with changing anything. Totally free. You honestly don’t need anything else, other than evidence you’re using that new name if you want to change your passport - I just got work to write a letter on their headed note paper confirming what was what I was using at work / on payroll etc. And I suspect you would still need that if it was enrolled.