> Source: https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/free-deed-poll-template/ — last reviewed 22 August 2026. This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the same content the page serves. # 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. Who should skip this Skip the paid PDF if you are willing to copy the government wording accurately, lay out signature blocks yourself, and accept that a wording mistake is yours to fix. Skip a deed poll entirely if you are only taking a spouse’s surname printed on your marriage certificate. Checked by [Sarah Ellison](/author/sarah-ellison/), paralegal — last reviewed 22 August 2026 [Get the personalised version — £14.99](/start/)One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription, ever. ## What is the free deed poll template? Below is a genuinely free, usable deed poll using the government’s published model wording — no email gate, no watermark, no catch. Replace the bracketed fields, 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. They 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. HM Passport Office and the DVLA want wet ink. The paid alternative is a [£14.99 personalised PDF](/adult-deed-poll/) with an instruction card and a wording guarantee. This template is a [change of name deed](/change-of-name-deed/) — the same unenrolled deed poll HMPO accepts. For under-16s, DIY most often fails on consent — use the [child pack](/child-deed-poll/) or do not change the name. Lost a signed copy later? [Print and sign a fresh original](/replace-lost-deed-poll/) — do not pay an archive fee. ## 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): ____________________ Copy the template ## Free DIY vs our £14.99 service — an honest comparison | | Free DIY (£0) | InstantDeedPoll (£14.99) | Wording | The government model wording — correct, but you copy it accurately yourself | The same wording, merged with your details and checked | Formatting | You lay out the document, signature rules and witness blocks | Professionally formatted A4 PDF, ready to print | Instructions | You research the signing and witnessing rules | Step-by-step instruction card included | If it is rejected for its wording | You absorb the risk | Money-back acceptance guarantee (60 days) | Re-downloads | Keep your own copy safe | Unlimited 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](/adult-deed-poll/) exists for exactly that. For children, DIY most often goes wrong on consent — see [child deed polls](/child-deed-poll/). ## Related guides - [Change of name deed — how the document works](/change-of-name-deed/) - [Name change UK process](/how-to-change-your-name-uk/) - [Personalised PDF — £14.99](/adult-deed-poll/) - [What is a deed poll?](/what-is-a-deed-poll/) ## Sources and further reading - [GOV.UK — make an unenrolled deed poll (model wording)](https://www.gov.uk/make-unenrolled-deed-poll) - [GOV.UK — change your name by deed poll](https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll) Good to know ## Frequently asked questions ### Is a free deed poll legally valid?+ Yes — completely. Validity comes from the wording and proper signing before two independent witnesses, not from who produced the document or what paper it’s on. A correctly worded free deed poll has exactly the same legal effect as a £300 solicitor’s one. ### Why would anyone pay £14.99 if it’s free?+ For wording confidence, professional formatting, a step-by-step signing instruction card, and a money-back acceptance guarantee. Most rejections happen because of DIY wording or execution mistakes. If you’re confident following the government wording yourself, the free template below is genuinely all you need. ### What wording must a deed poll contain?+ Three declarations: that you abandon your old name, that you adopt your new name for all purposes, and that you require all persons to address you by your new name. Our free template below uses the government’s published model wording. ### Can I change my child’s name with a free template?+ You can, but child deed polls are where DIY most often goes wrong — everyone with parental responsibility must consent, and schools and HMPO may ask for signed consent letters. Our £17.99 child pack exists mainly to handle that paperwork correctly. ### Will banks accept a homemade deed poll?+ Generally yes, in branch with photo ID — but gov.uk honestly warns that some organisations may not accept a deed poll you made yourself. In practice, rejections stem from poor wording or signing errors, not from DIY itself. Our wording QA is what the £14.99 buys.