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Lots of people go by a name that is different to the one on their birth certificate.  This may be a small change such as: a different spelling of a forename or surname, adding in a hyphen to create a double barrelled surname, or something more obvious like the long standing use of a nickname which has just become the norm.

Others decide that they have had enough of their current name and want a change, or want to add a name to that which they already have.  A growing trend we have seen in recent years is for couples who are marrying to have a double barrelled surname, combining both their names and so they change their names before the wedding or after.

You can choose to change your name whenever you wish and technically you don’t have to take any formal steps to do so, but the problem comes when you need to prove who you are.  If your ID is your birth certificate, a driving licence, or passport which was obtained with your birth certificate, or if you are relying on the birth certificate itself, you will need to have a formal document to prove that you are the same person using a different name.  There are a number of ways to deal with this.

A marriage certificate. The most common change of name is when couples marry. The marriage certificate is proof of the change of name in this case and the original or a certified copy is all that is needed, along with the birth certificate or other ID.

A Change Of Name Deed. If you have not yet changed your name, but wish to start using a new one you can use a change of name deed.  This document will set out what your original name is and what you intend to change it to.  This can be drawn up informally and witnessed.  However, given the increasingly tight rules on ID checks these days, most organisations will only accept this as proof if it has been completed formally and drawn up by a lawyer or, as a minimum, witnessed by a solicitor or Notary.

Deed Poll - “Unenrolled” or “Enrolled”.
An unenrolled Deed Poll is another form of a change of name deed and works as above.
An enrolled Deed Poll means the document is enrolled at the Royal Courts of Justice with a Notice being placed in the London Gazette, making the change of name a matter of public record rather than a private document.  As such, there is more to the procedure than a straightforward change of name and includes the need for a Statutory Declaration to be made by a person you have known for ten years or more, to provide further confirmation of your identity.

Statutory Declaration. If you have been using your new name for a long time, it may cause confusion to have a change of name deed which says that from the date of that deed you will be known under your new name.  Especially when there may be some records already showing you as such.  In those cases, or where you may have lost a previous change of name deed, a Statutory Declaration is a formal document which sets out the background of your change of name use and puts it on a formal footing for future use.  This should be drawn up by or at least witnessed by a solicitor or Notary.

Change of Name Deeds and Statutory Declarations are documents we can deal with quickly and with a minimum of fuss for you.  If you need further information or wish to speak to us about preparing any of these documents contact Melinda Smith on 01945 898090 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.