> Source: https://instantdeedpoll.co.uk/who-can-change-their-name/ — last reviewed 22 August 2026. This Markdown mirror is generated at build time from the same content the page serves.

# Who Can Change Their Name by Deed Poll?

Quick answer

Anyone aged 16 or over who lives in the UK can make their own deed poll — no reason, permission or court involvement needed. Under-16s need a parent or guardian to apply, with the agreement of everyone who holds parental responsibility. You must also have the mental capacity to understand the change.

Who should skip this

Skip a deed poll if you lack capacity to understand the change, if a court has already ordered the name, or if you only want a spouse’s surname printed on a marriage certificate. Skip a child pack without every parental-responsibility holder’s written consent.

Checked by [Sarah Ellison](/author/sarah-ellison/), paralegal — last reviewed 22 August 2026

[Start your deed poll — £14.99](/start/)One-time payment. Yours forever. No subscription, ever.

## Adults (16 and over)

From your 16th birthday you are treated as an adult for name-change purposes. You need no consent from parents, a spouse or anyone else, and you never have to give a reason. Fill in the three-minute form, print, and sign in front of two independent witnesses. Age plus capacity to understand what you are signing is the eligibility test.

Start: [adult form](/start/). Restrictions on the name itself: [what names get refused](/name-restrictions/). Separated but still married: your spouse does not have to agree — see [change name after separation](/change-name-after-separation/).

## Children under 16

A parent or guardian applies on the child’s behalf, and everyone with parental responsibility must agree — usually both parents named on the birth certificate. If one holder refuses, the only route is a Specific Issue Order from the family court on form C100. We will not sell a document that would not be valid.

Pack: [child deed poll](/child-deed-poll/). Detail: [parental responsibility](/parental-responsibility-name-change/) and [does the father have to agree?](/fathers-consent-name-change/)

## Residency, nationality and capacity

A deed poll is a document of England and Wales practice, used across the UK. You do not need British citizenship — you need to live here and use the name here. Foreign nationals can change the name they use for UK records; their home country controls its own passports. You must have mental capacity to understand the change.

Scotland has an additional registration option through National Records of Scotland; a statutory declaration is also common there — see [stat dec of name change](/statutory-declaration-name-change/). A deputy or attorney cannot normally execute a deed for someone without court approval.

## Sources and further reading

- [GOV.UK — change your name by deed poll](https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll)
- [GOV.UK — change a child’s name](https://www.gov.uk/change-a-childs-name)

Good to know

## Frequently asked questions

### Can 16 and 17 year olds really change their own name?+

Yes. From 16 you make your own adult deed poll without anyone’s consent. A handful of organisations may additionally ask a 16–17 year old for a parent’s countersignature on their own forms, but the deed poll itself needs no parental involvement.

### Can I change my name if I wasn’t born in the UK?+

If you live in the UK, yes — a deed poll changes the name you use in the UK regardless of where you were born. UK bodies (Home Office, banks, DVLA once you hold a GB licence) accept it. Your home country’s documents, such as a foreign passport, are governed by that country’s law, and its embassy may or may not recognise a UK deed poll.

### Can I change my name while bankrupt or on bail?+

A deed poll does not erase obligations. Bankrupts must disclose all names used; anyone subject to court orders, licensing or notification requirements (for example under the Sexual Offences Act) must tell the relevant authorities about a new name — failing to do so is a criminal offence. The deed poll wording itself includes the police-notification acknowledgement.

### How often can I change my name?+

There is no legal limit. Each change needs a fresh deed poll, and each document stands alone. Very frequent changes can attract extra identity checks from banks and HMPO, but the law does not cap them.