InstantDeedPoll
£14.99
Menu
Adult Deed PollChild Deed PollStatutory DeclarationsPricesReviewsAboutContact

Guides

Which document do I need?Name change UKChange of name deedHow long a deed poll takesWho to notifyDeed poll costFree deed poll templateEnrolled vs unenrolledChange name on passportChange name on licenceChange name after marriageUniversal Credit & benefitsStatutory declaration costsWho can witness a stat dec

Changing Your Name in a Civil Partnership

Quick answer

Your civil partnership certificate can support taking your partner’s surname, including a double-barrelled surname for HM Passport Office. Ask each organisation what evidence it requires before buying a document. A new blended surname or a separate forename change may need a deed poll. Dissolution does not automatically change either partner’s name.

Who should skip this

Skip a deed poll if you are only taking your civil partner’s surname exactly as the certificate shows. Skip InstantDeedPoll for High Court enrolment. Skip a child pack unless every parental-responsibility holder agrees.

Updated · Editorial policy

Get your deed poll PDF — £14.99

One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription, ever.

When the certificate is enough

One partner taking the other’s surname is the certificate route: show the civil partnership certificate to HMPO, the DVLA, your bank and employer. It works for either partner, of any sex, including opposite-sex civil partnerships available in the UK since 2019. There is no deadline — the certificate does not expire as evidence.

Update your driving licence (free) or passport first so you hold photo ID in the new name, then work through the who to notify checklist. Same rules as marriage.

When you need a deed poll

A deed poll may be useful for a new blended surname, an entirely new family name or a separate forename change that the certificate does not support. Double-barrelling after civil partnership is included in HM Passport Office’s certificate route. Check the evidence requirements before either partner pays for another document.

Each of you can complete the three-minute form. Double-barrel detail: double-barrelled surnames. Compare the service and delivery method when checking other providers — price comparison.

After dissolution

Names survive dissolution untouched — you choose if and when to revert. The certificate-stack route (dissolution order plus partnership certificate plus birth certificate) is free but inconsistently accepted. A deed poll is another way to evidence the change, subject to the receiving organisation’s requirements. The considerations mirror changing your name after divorce.

Guide: changing your name after divorce. If you have separated but the partnership is not yet dissolved, you are in the same boat as change name after separation — the certificate cannot revert you yet.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Is a civil partnership certificate as good as a marriage certificate for name changes?

Yes. HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC and UK banks treat a civil partnership certificate exactly like a marriage certificate: it evidences taking your partner’s surname (or returning to it after dissolution).

We both want a new shared surname — can the certificate do that?

It can support taking a partner’s surname or combining both surnames for HM Passport Office. An entirely new surname or a blend creating a different word may need a deed poll or other evidence. Check the receiving organisation’s requirements for each partner.

What happens to my name if the civil partnership is dissolved?

Your name does not change automatically. To revert, most organisations accept the dissolution order with your birth and partnership certificates, but — as after divorce — a deed poll is another evidence option. Ask each organisation what it needs.

Do same-sex married couples follow these rules too?

Married couples of any sex use their marriage certificate the same way. This page covers civil partners specifically — including opposite-sex civil partnerships, available in the UK since 2019.