Expert guides and advice
Changing a child's name turns on one question: who has parental responsibility? Mothers always do; fathers usually do; step-parents and guardians only sometimes. Here is how to work it out, whose consent you need, and the court route if a parent won't agree.
You don't have to wait for the divorce to go back to your maiden name. While you're separated there is no final order to show, so a deed poll is the one document every organisation accepts. What it changes, what it doesn't, and how to time it.
Widowed and thinking about your name? Your marriage certificate and your spouse's death certificate are normally enough to revert to your maiden name. Here is what each organisation accepts, when a deed poll helps, and how to take it at your own pace.
Your civil partnership certificate lets you take your partner's surname without a deed poll. For a double-barrelled, blended or brand-new name — or to revert after dissolution — here is exactly what each organisation will accept.
Prenups in the UK explained in plain English for 2026 - what a prenuptial agreement does, whether they're legally binding, what makes one hold up, the cost, and who actually needs one.
At 16, a young person can change their OWN name and sign their OWN deed poll - parental consent is not legally required. Here is exactly how a 16 or 17 year old changes their name, plus how to update a passport, school records, exam certificates and a bank account.
Can you legally have just one name in the UK? Yes, via deed poll, but it is not a smooth process. An honest look at mononyms, HM Passport Office’s restrictive stance, bank rejections and the practical workarounds that actually help.
You do not need to use the UK government to change your name. A legally valid unenrolled deed poll can be signed at home -- it's accepted by HMPO, DVLA, banks, and every major UK organisation. This 2026 guide explains the rules and the routes.