InstantDeedPoll

Free Deed Poll Template (UK) – With Honest Guidance

Quick answer

A free deed poll is legally valid if it uses the correct wording and is signed in ink in front of two independent adult witnesses. The government publishes the wording at no cost, and we provide a plain free template below. Our £14.99 service adds a professionally formatted, personalised PDF, an instruction card and unlimited re-downloads.

Checked by Sarah Ellison, paralegal — last reviewed 6 January 2026

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What is the free deed poll template?

Below is a genuinely free, genuinely usable deed poll template using the government’s published model wording — no email gate, no watermark, no catch. Replace the bracketed fields with your details, print it, and sign it in ink in both your old and new names in front of two independent witnesses aged 18 or over. Each witness must be physically present, watch you sign, then sign and add their name and address. Print and sign three to four copies so you hold multiple originals. Never use an electronic signature.

The free template — copy this

CHANGE OF NAME DEED (DEED POLL)

I [YOUR CURRENT FULL NAME] of [YOUR FULL ADDRESS] have given up my name [YOUR CURRENT FULL NAME] and have adopted for all purposes the name [YOUR NEW FULL NAME].

Where applicable, I have informed the police that I have given up my name [YOUR CURRENT FULL NAME] and have adopted the name [YOUR NEW FULL NAME] and understand that a failure to do so is a criminal offence.

I also understand that when I apply for official documents in my new name, such as a British passport, the relevant authorities may check the history and validity of my old name [YOUR CURRENT FULL NAME] and new name [YOUR NEW FULL NAME].

Signed as a deed on [DATE] as [YOUR CURRENT FULL NAME] and [YOUR NEW FULL NAME] in the presence of:

Witness 1: name ____________________  address ____________________  signature ____________________

Witness 2: name ____________________  address ____________________  signature ____________________

Signed (old name): ____________________

Signed (new name): ____________________

Free DIY vs our £14.99 service — an honest comparison

Free DIY (£0)InstantDeedPoll (£14.99)
WordingThe government model wording — correct, but you copy it accurately yourselfThe same wording, merged with your details and checked
FormattingYou lay out the document, signature rules and witness blocksProfessionally formatted A4 PDF, ready to print
InstructionsYou research the signing and witnessing rulesStep-by-step instruction card included
If it is rejected for its wordingYou absorb the riskMoney-back acceptance guarantee (60 days)
Re-downloadsKeep your own copy safeUnlimited re-downloads for 12 months

What are the honest risks of DIY?

Gov.uk warns that some organisations may not accept a deed poll you have made yourself — in practice, rejections stem from poor wording or signing errors, not from DIY itself. If you are confident following the government wording, the template above is all you need. If you would rather remove the wording and formatting risk, our £14.99 deed poll exists for exactly that. For children, DIY most often goes wrong on consent — see child deed polls.

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