Do I need to use a Deed Poll to change my name?
Why do you need a Deed Poll?
You need a Deed Poll to prove to the Passport Office, DVLA, other official bodies and companies that your name has changed.
Do I need to use a Deed Poll to change my name?
Technically you can change your name by ‘usage’ of a new name after the age of 16. However, you will encounter difficulties with certain government departments, official bodies, companies and organisations. There are a number of other ways in which you can change your name without a Deed Poll. These are:
- A newly married woman does not need a deed poll where she decides to continue using her current surname. She also does not need a deed poll when deciding to take her husband’s surname. All she has to do here is use the Marriage Certificate as documentary evidence.
- Civil Partnership Certificate, allowing one partner to adopt the surname of the other partner.
- Decree Absolute Certificate, usually allowing a divorcee to return to their surname prior to the marriage or civil partnership.
- Death certificate, allowing a widow to return to their surname before marriage or civil partnership.
- Adoptive Birth Certificate, where the adopted child’s surname changed to the adopted family’s surname.
If you want to change your name for any other reason, then you will need evidence that your name has changed, this document being a Deed Poll.
