> Source: https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/statutory-declaration-name-change/ — last reviewed 22 August 2026. This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the same content the page serves. # Statutory Declaration of Name Change (Alternative to Deed Poll) Quick answer A statutory declaration of name change is a sworn-form statement — declared true before a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, notary or JP under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 — proving you have stopped using your old name and adopted a new one. It is the standard name-change instrument in Scotland and costs £9.99 from us, plus the £5 statutory witnessing fee. Who should skip this Skip this if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and nobody has asked for a statutory declaration by name — an adult deed poll is the usual instrument and needs no solicitor visit. InstantDeedPoll.co.uk is an independent document service and is not affiliated with HM Government. £9.99One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription, ever. - ✓Personalised statutory declaration PDF with the exact 1835 Act wording and blank jurat - ✓Witnessing instruction card: who can witness, the £5 + £2 statutory fee, ID to bring - ✓Unlimited free re-downloads for 12 months - ✓Money-back acceptance guarantee [Generate your declaration — £9.99](/start/statutory-declaration/?use-case=name-change)Acceptance guarantee: if HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC or any UK bank refuses to accept your document solely because of its wording, tell us within 60 days and we will refund you in full. WARNING: it is a criminal offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, knowingly to make a false statutory declaration. Do not sign this document until you are in front of your witness. ![A client signing a statutory declaration across the desk from a solicitor in a high-street office] 1 ### Fill in, in 3 minutes Answer a few plain-English questions about your declaration. No legal knowledge needed — and you can preview your document free before you pay. 2 ### Checked by our legal team Your declaration is built from wording our paralegal has checked against the prescribed form of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 — right first time, no drafting errors. 3 ### Instant PDF by email Pay once. Your tailored declaration arrives by email within minutes, with a step-by-step instruction card and unlimited re-downloads. 4 ### Sign in front of an authorised witness Do not pre-sign. Sign in front of a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, notary or JP, who watches you sign then signs, dates and stamps it. The statutory witness fee is fixed by law at £5. ### Accepted or your money back If HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC or any UK bank refuses your document solely because of its wording, we refund you in full within 60 days. ### One-time payment Yours forever. No subscription, no hidden fees, and unlimited free re-downloads for 12 months. ### Genuine legal wording The government model wording and 1835-Act prescribed form, reproduced character-for-character and checked by our legal team. InstantDeedPoll.co.uk is an independent document service and is not affiliated with HM Government. Read our acceptance guaranteeAcceptance guarantee: if HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC or any UK bank refuses to accept your document solely because of its wording, tell us within 60 days and we will refund you in full. One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription, ever. ## What does the declaration say? Your declaration states that you were formerly known as your current name, that on or about a given date you ceased using it and adopted your new name for all purposes, and that you have used the new name exclusively since. The wording follows the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 exactly. A solicitor may quote £25–£55 to draft a statutory declaration. Our tailored PDF is £9.99, and the statutory witnessing fee is fixed by law at £5. ## How do I sign it correctly? Do not sign until you are in front of your witness. The witness checks your photo ID and proof of address, watches you sign, then completes the jurat with their signature, date and stamp. Physical presence is the norm — video witnessing only works if the receiving body agrees. See [who can witness a statutory declaration](/who-can-witness-a-statutory-declaration/). ## Is a deed poll simpler? Usually, yes — a [deed poll for £14.99](/adult-deed-poll/) needs only two independent adult witnesses and no solicitor visit. But in Scotland the statutory declaration is the standard route, and if an organisation has asked for a statutory declaration by name, this is the document to provide. Read the full [statutory declaration guide](/statutory-declaration/). What a statutory declaration really costs| Route | Typical cost | What you get | Solicitor drafts it | £25–£55 | Drafting fee, plus the £5 statutory witnessing fee on top | Notary public | £70–£125+ | Notarial rates, plus appointment lead time | InstantDeedPoll.co.ukBest value | £9.99 once | Tailored 1835-Act PDF by email in minutes (+ £5 statutory witness fee) One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription, ever.Good to know ## Frequently asked questions ### When would I use a statutory declaration instead of a deed poll?+ In Scotland the statutory declaration is the standard name-change instrument, and some organisations occasionally ask for one specifically. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a deed poll is the more common route — our deed poll PDF is £14.99. ### What wording does the declaration use?+ The exact form prescribed by the Statutory Declarations Act 1835: the opening “I … do solemnly and sincerely declare that”, numbered paragraphs of fact, the closing invocation of the 1835 Act, and a jurat left blank for your witness to complete. HMPO rejects declarations without the exact wording, so our generator reproduces it character-for-character. ### Who can witness my declaration and what does it cost?+ A practising solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, notary public or Justice of the Peace — independent of you and the matter. The fee is fixed by law at £5 per declarant plus £2 per exhibit. Never sign before your appointment; the witness must watch you sign. ### Is a statutory declaration legally risky?+ It is a serious document: knowingly making a false one is a criminal offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment. Only declare what you know to be true.