Find the right UK name change guide
Quick answer
Choose the task you need to complete, then follow a focused guide. Start with the document checker if you are unsure whether you need a deed poll, marriage certificate, statutory declaration or official form. After changing your name, use the record-update guides and free organiser to work through each organisation’s requirements.
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Choose your document
Start here if you need to decide between an official route, a deed poll or a declaration.
- Which document do I need?: Interactive checker: adult or child deed poll, marriage certificate, CNI, statutory declaration — or skip us. Honest UK name-change document picker.
- Name Change UK — How to Change My Name: How to change your name in the UK: deed polls, marriage certificates, costs, witnesses and who to notify. Free DIY or a personalised adult PDF for £14.99.
- Adult Deed Poll — £14.99: Get a personalised adult deed poll PDF for £14.99. Preview before paying, download and print at home, then sign with witnesses. One-time payment.
- Child Deed Poll — £17.99: Child deed poll pack for £17.99 — personalised PDF plus parental-responsibility consent letters, emailed in minutes. One-time payment, 60-day wording guarantee.
- Free Deed Poll Template: Download a free blank adult deed poll PDF or editable Word template using GOV.UK model wording. No email or payment required. Signing instructions included.
- Change Your Name in Scotland: How to change your name in Scotland: record it with National Records of Scotland, use a deed poll, or sign a statutory declaration before a JP or notary.
More guides for this task (6)
- Name Change for Foreign Nationals: Changing your name in the UK on a visa: check your home passport first, update your UKVI account and eVisa, share codes, and legalising a UK deed poll abroad.
- What Is a Deed Poll?: A deed poll is a legal document that proves you have changed your name. What it is, what makes it valid, what it can and cannot do — plain-English guide.
- Change of Name Deed: A change of name deed is an unenrolled deed poll. Make one in the UK, sign it, and use it to change your name. Instant PDF £14.99 or free template.
- Who Can Change Their Name?: Anyone 16 or over can make their own deed poll unless a court order says otherwise. Under-16s need everyone with parental responsibility to agree.
- Name Restrictions — What’s Allowed?: UK name rules: which names HM Passport Office will not put in a passport, and how it shows numbers, accents, titles, single names and long names.
- Lost or Replacement Deed Poll: Lost your deed poll? Check whether you need a historical certified copy, a new signed deed or your unsigned PDF. Find archive routes and avoid backdating.
Change after a life event
Follow the route that matches what changed and whose records need updating.
- Change Name After Marriage: Change your name after marriage: when a certificate is enough, double-barrelled surnames, passport timing, DVLA, bank updates and when a deed poll helps.
- Change Name After Divorce: Change your name after divorce: check passport evidence, compare existing certificates and deed polls, and plan bank, driving licence and other record updates.
- Change Name After Separation: Change your name before divorce: check existing evidence, deed poll options, spouse consent and documents for passport, bank and other records.
- Civil Partnership Name Change: Changing your name after a civil partnership: when the certificate covers a partner’s surname or double-barrel, and when a deed poll may be needed.
- Change Name After Bereavement: Widowed and want to revert to your maiden name — or keep your married name? The documents you need, when a deed poll helps, and the order to update records.
- Change a Child’s Surname: Changing a child’s surname needs consent from everyone with parental responsibility. Child deed poll pack £17.99 with consent letters — instant PDF.
More guides for this task (6)
- Child’s Name After Adoption: An adoption certificate shows the child’s new name, so you do not need a deed poll to complete an adoption. Passports, step-parent adoption and later changes.
- Parental Responsibility & Name Change: Everyone with parental responsibility must consent to a child’s name change. Who holds it, how to check, and the C100 court route. Child deed poll £17.99.
- Does the Father Have to Agree?: If the father holds parental responsibility, he must consent to a child’s name change. When his consent isn’t required, and the C100 route.
- Double-Barrelled Surname: How to double-barrel your surname in the UK — with or without a deed poll. £14.99 instant PDF when you need one. One-time payment, 60-day wording guarantee.
- Change a Middle Name: When you need a deed poll to add, remove, reorder or respell a middle name, what HM Passport Office accepts instead, and the rules for children. £14.99 PDF.
- Trans Name Change UK: Trans name changes in the UK: deed poll, privacy and evidence for passport, licence, bank and NHS updates. Free guidance and optional £14.99 PDF preparation.
Update your records
Find each organisation’s evidence requirements and keep track of the work.
- Who to Notify — Complete Checklist: Name-change checklist: DVLA (free), passport (£102 online), HMRC, banks, NHS, employer, insurers, utilities and the electoral register, with what each needs.
- Free Personalised Name Change Organiser: Build a free name-change checklist for banks, HMRC, NHS, passport and DVLA. Check evidence, tick off updates, print or save locally. No account needed.
- Change Name on Passport: Change name on your passport in the UK with a change of name deed plus name-in-use evidence. Adult online £102. Deed poll PDF £14.99.
- Change the Name on Your Driving Licence: Change your driving licence name with DVLA: D1 and D2 forms, original evidence, new-name proof, fees and postal addresses. Includes the Northern Ireland route.
- Universal Credit & Benefits Name Change: Update your name on Universal Credit, PIP and other benefits. Evidence, bank details, DWP contacts and a practical checklist, with free document options.
- Change Your Name with Your Bank: Compare UK bank name-change evidence and routes, including Lloyds, HSBC, Nationwide and RBS. Check app, branch and postal requirements before applying.
More guides for this task (5)
- Change Your Name with HMRC: Tell HMRC your name has changed using GOV.UK or the HMRC app. Understand National Insurance, Self Assessment, payroll and separate benefit updates.
- Change Your Name with the NHS & GP: Update your name through your GP, check NHS App details and keep health records consistent. Practical guidance for England and routes across the UK.
- Change Your Name on a V5C Log Book: Changing the name on a V5C is a postal process. Check marriage evidence, simultaneous address changes, lost log books, fees and DVLA return times.
- Change Your Name with HM Land Registry: Update your name on the property register in England and Wales: free AP1 application, certified copies, when ID1 or ID3 is needed, form CNG and what to send.
- Birth Certificates & Deed Polls: A deed poll and a birth-certificate change are different processes. Understand evidence linking your names and when to check official registration routes.
Check wording and costs
Compare free, paid and official processes before choosing a service.
- Deed Poll Cost: Compare deed poll costs: free government wording, our £14.99 personalised PDF, £53.05 court enrolment and separately quoted services. See what each includes.
- Enrolled vs Unenrolled Deed Poll: Compare unenrolled and enrolled deed polls: recipient requirements, the £53.05 court fee, supporting evidence and privacy before you choose a route.
- Deed Poll Witnesses & Signing Check: Choose deed poll witnesses, understand one versus two witnesses, and avoid signing errors. Free checklist and illustrated example for an unenrolled deed.
- Deed Poll Not Accepted — Next Steps: Bank, passport office or DVLA not accepting your deed poll? Check signatures, originals and name-in-use evidence. Free printable evidence-request letter.
- Statutory Declaration Cost: Statutory declaration costs explained: the £5 witnessing fee, £2 exhibits, VAT, preparation and apostilles. Compare free forms and PDF options from £9.99.
- How Long Does a Deed Poll Take?: Understand the name-change timeline: PDF delivery, printing and witnesses, proof of name use, passport and DVLA updates, and court enrolment.
Declarations and overseas use
Read about statutory declarations and documents requested for marriage abroad.
- What Is a Statutory Declaration?: What is a statutory declaration? Understand UK uses, authorised witnesses, forms, costs and overseas requirements. Optional personalised PDFs from £9.99.
- Stat Dec of Name Change — £9.99: Prepare a statutory declaration of name change for £9.99. Personalised PDF and signing instructions; authorised witnessing and any other charges are separate.
- One and the Same Person — £9.99: “One and the same person” statutory declaration PDF for £9.99 — fix name discrepancies across documents. 1835 Act wording, instant delivery.
- Lost Document Declaration — £9.99: Prepare a lost-document declaration PDF for £9.99 where the recipient requests one. Check its form and evidence rules; witnessing is a separate step.
- Who Can Witness a Statutory Declaration: Find an authorised statutory declaration witness, prepare for your appointment and check fees, exhibits and remote-signing rules. Do not sign in advance.
- Free Official Stat Dec Forms: Some declarations have free official forms: PE2/PE3, Gender Recognition, the SRA and HM Land Registry. When the free form is right, and when £9.99 is worth it.
More guides for this task (4)
- Statutory Declaration Template: Free statutory declaration example with the exact 1835 Act wording, plus a tailored personalised PDF for £9.99. One-time payment, 60-day wording guarantee.
- Unpaid PCN Court Forms: TE9, PE2, PE3 (Free Route): PE3 and PE2 are free court forms for some unpaid PCNs. Parking PCNs use form TE9, which needs no witness. Which form, deadline and address apply to you.
- Single Status Declaration — £14.99: Single status declaration for marrying abroad: £14.99 personalised PDF with guidance. Check local requirements; witnessing and legalisation costs are separate.
- Freedom to Marry Declaration: Freedom to marry statutory declaration for weddings abroad: £14.99 tailored PDF. Which countries ask for one, who witnesses it, apostilles and total costs.
Get help after ordering
Find a missing PDF, check order status, correct details or get help using your documents.
- Order Help & Contact: Help with missing PDFs, payment status, corrections, printing and expired download links. Contact InstantDeedPoll support with your order reference.
- Deed Poll Witnesses & Signing Check: Choose deed poll witnesses, understand one versus two witnesses, and avoid signing errors. Free checklist and illustrated example for an unenrolled deed.
- Who Can Witness a Statutory Declaration: Find an authorised statutory declaration witness, prepare for your appointment and check fees, exhibits and remote-signing rules. Do not sign in advance.
- Deed Poll Not Accepted — Next Steps: Bank, passport office or DVLA not accepting your deed poll? Check signatures, originals and name-in-use evidence. Free printable evidence-request letter.
- Refund Policy: Our refund policy: the 60-day wording guarantee for wording-related refusals, free corrections for our errors, and how the digital-content waiver works.
- Lost or Replacement Deed Poll: Lost your deed poll? Check whether you need a historical certified copy, a new signed deed or your unsigned PDF. Find archive routes and avoid backdating.
Where can I get help with an order?
Use order help and contact for a missing delivery email, payment status, document corrections, printing or expired download links. It explains what you can check yourself and which details to include when contacting support.
Where should I start if I am unsure?
Use the which-document checker to identify the route that fits your situation. It includes free and official options where those are more suitable. Then read how to change your name in the UK for the full process.
What happens after I have a signed document?
Each record-holder applies its own evidence rules. Start with the who-to-notify checklist and track progress in the free name change organiser. Our guides cover passports, driving licences, Universal Credit and benefits, banks and more.
What if I need a free route?
See the free deed poll template and the official statutory declaration forms. Optional paid preparation is separate from any official fee or witnessing service. Compare routes in our deed poll cost guide.