Questions people ask

Nothing. Making, printing and downloading your deed poll here is free, and so is the emailed copy if you want one. You’ll only pay for things that have their own fee, like a new passport.

No. There’s no legal requirement to use a solicitor for an unenrolled deed poll, and the Passport Office accepts ones people make themselves.

A couple of minutes to make, and a few more to sign once your witnesses are with you. It takes effect as soon as it’s signed.

Yes. A deed poll works for any change, big or small, as long as it gives your full old name and your full new name.

Yes. Write the whole new name exactly as you want it, from first name to surname, and the deed poll covers every part of it.

Not if you’re simply taking your spouse’s or civil partner’s surname: your marriage or civil partnership certificate does that job. A deed poll is the way to go for anything else, such as a new first name.

Leave titles out. They aren’t part of your legal name. If you’re entitled to a professional title such as Dr, the Passport Office can add it to your passport separately when you show the right evidence.

You can choose almost any name. The Passport Office won’t accept names that could cause offence, and its system can’t print some things, so this form accepts letters, spaces, hyphens and apostrophes only.

As many as you’ll need at once. Every copy that’s signed and witnessed on the same occasion is an original. Two or three is plenty for most people.

The wording follows GOV.UK’s template, which includes it. It only applies to people who have to keep the police informed of their details, such as those on the sex offenders register. For everyone else, there’s nothing to do.

If you spot it before signing, change the details and print it again. If it’s already signed, make a fresh one and sign that instead. Don’t correct a signed deed poll by hand.

Not unless you ask for the emailed copy. The PDF is made on the spot and not kept. We count how many deed polls are made, but not who made them. If you ask for the email, we keep your email address and the names for up to 12 months. The privacy notice has the details.

If you live permanently abroad, GOV.UK says you can’t change your name by deed poll, so check the rules in the country where you live.

The wording follows the guidance for England and Wales. If you were born in Scotland, different rules apply, so check the official guidance first.