Changing your name by deed poll in England: free yourself or £53.05 through the High Court

There are two ways to change your name in England and Wales, and the difference is practical: one is free and you do it yourself, the other costs £53.05, goes through the High Court and ends up on public record. Here is what you can change, what you cannot, and which version a bank will accept.

What is a deed poll and what can it change?

A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. You can change any part of your name, add or remove names or hyphens, or change the spelling.

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The new name must be pronounceable, must not include symbols, numbers or punctuation — hyphens and established spellings such as O'Hara aside — and must not be offensive or against the public interest; adding Ltd to the end of a name, for instance, is out.

What a deed poll does not do: it cannot change which letters in your name are capitalised, and it cannot add or remove titles such as Mr, Mrs, Sir, Lady or Doctor. People born in Scotland follow separate rules, and permanent residents overseas cannot change their name by deed poll at all.

Unenrolled or enrolled: what is the difference?

From the age of 16 you can make a deed poll yourself and start using the new name. This is an unenrolled deed poll and it is free. From 18 you can apply to put the change on public record through the High Court — an enrolled deed poll, which costs £53.05.

The distinction matters for a mundane reason: some organisations, including certain banks, mobile phone companies and energy providers, accept only an enrolled deed poll on their records. The rule is not uniform, so ask the specific organisation in advance which document it will take as proof of your new name.

How does an enrolled deed poll work?

You apply online or by post and pay £53.05. Your name change and your address are published in The Gazette. If you have a strong reason for your details not to be published, explain it in the application: the judge may agree to publish only your first name or only your surname. A copy of the Gazette notice is sent to you by email or post.

It is a slow process: enrolment can take several months, and you can ask the Deed Poll Office for an update six months after applying.

You will need a copy of one of the following: a birth certificate, a valid passport or a certificate of naturalisation. Supporting documents may also be requested — adoption documents, a marriage or civil partnership certificate, the written consent of a husband, wife or partner, or a consent letter if someone is completing the form for you for medical reasons. If you are divorced or widowed you will need a photocopy of your decree absolute or final order, or your partner's death certificate. Documents not in English or Welsh need certified translations.

Do you need a deed poll after marriage or divorce?

No deed poll is needed to take a spouse's or civil partner's surname: send record-holders a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate.

To go back to your original name after a divorce or the end of a civil partnership, a marriage certificate with the decree absolute, or a civil partnership certificate with the final order, is usually enough. But some organisations will not change your name back without a deed poll, which is worth checking in advance.

How do you change a child's name?

For a child under 18 there are two routes: an unenrolled deed poll through a specialist agency or a solicitor, or enrolment with the High Court. A 16 or 17-year-old can choose to make their own unenrolled deed poll; if they are or have been married or in a civil partnership, they must enrol as an adult instead.

Enrolment costs the same £53.05 and needs either the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility or a court order — and you must try to reach agreement before seeking an order. A parent or guardian can apply. You will need a copy of the child's full birth certificate, adoption documents if they were adopted, and papers about your own status: a photocopy of a decree absolute or final order if divorced, a death certificate if widowed, a marriage or civil partnership certificate if your surname on the birth certificate differs from your current one, and a letter from a new partner agreeing to the change. The child's new name is published in The Gazette, though a judge may limit publication for strong reasons.

Who must be told about a name change?

One rule is strict and absolute. Anyone on the register as a sex, violent or terrorist offender must tell the police of a name change within three days, in person at their local prescribed police station — the address is given to them on release. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.