Guidance on the legal rules and procedures for changing your name in the UK, including deed polls, age requirements, and consent.
Having a criminal record does not stop you from legally changing your name in the UK by deed poll. But a name change never wipes your record, and you must still disclose it on DBS checks and certain registers. Here are the 2026 rules, exceptions and legal duties explained.
No name is technically illegal in the UK, but HM Passport Office will reject names that are offensive, use unearned titles, contain numbers or symbols, or are unpronounceable. Here is the full 2026 list of what is banned - and what is allowed.
Does a deed poll expire? No. A UK deed poll has no expiry date and your new name is yours for life. We bust the ‘expiry’ myth, explain why it never runs out, and show how to keep your document safe so you’re never caught out.
Not every UK name change needs a deed poll. Here’s the clear exemptions list - marriage and civil partnership certificates, reverting to a maiden name after divorce, title-only changes (Mr/Ms/Mx) and informal ‘known as’ use - plus when you do still need one.
No, you do not always legally need a deed poll to change your name in the UK. For marriage and divorce reversions, a certificate is enough. For everything else, a deed poll is the standard evidence organisations expect. Here are the exact rules.
Confused about deed poll vs statutory declaration? For a UK name change you almost always need a deed poll, not a stat dec. Here’s the precise difference, what each document actually does, and the rare cases where a statutory declaration is the right choice.
