Change of Name Deed (Deed Poll)

A deed poll (also called a change of name deed) is the standard legal instrument used to formally change a person's name in England and Wales. It is a formal deed by which you renounce your former name and undertake to use your new name at all times. We prepare unenrolled deed polls, which are legally valid for the vast majority of purposes including passports, driving licences, bank accounts and immigration documents.

"Unenrolled" simply means the deed is not registered at the Royal Courts of Justice. Enrolment is optional, adds cost and delay, and is rarely required — an unenrolled deed prepared and witnessed correctly is fully effective for almost all practical purposes.

• Prepared by our solicitor and executed as a formal legal deed
• Unenrolled — no registration at the Royal Courts of Justice required; fully legally effective for most purposes
• Accepted by HM Passport Office, DVLA, banks, employers and public authorities
• Suitable for adults and, with appropriate parental consent, children
• Multiple certified copies available on request
• Straightforward turnaround — typically same day or next working day

For a child under 16, the deed must normally be executed by everyone with parental responsibility. Where a parent's consent cannot be obtained, additional evidence or a court order may be required. We will review your circumstances and advise on what is needed before preparing the deed.