The Honest Answer First
If you have searched for “deed poll Mr to Mx” or “change title deed poll”, you deserve a straight answer before anything else: in the UK, a title is not legally part of your name. Titles such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss, Mx and Dr are courtesy labels — not legal identifiers — so you do not strictly need a deed poll to change yours. You can simply start using your new title.
That may sound too good to be true, especially when other websites are keen to sell you a document for the job. But it is the law as it actually works. A deed poll changes a name. It does not change, and cannot change, a title, because a title was never part of your legal name to begin with. Anyone selling you a “deed poll for your title” is selling you something you do not need.
So if your only goal is to be known as Mx instead of Mr, or Ms instead of Mrs, the genuinely useful advice is short: start asking organisations to record your new title, and most will simply do it. The rest of this guide explains the nuance — where a little documentation helps, how “Mx” adoption is going with banks, the DVLA and HM Passport Office, and the one situation where a deed poll really is the correct tool.
Why a Title Is Not Part of Your Legal Name
Your legal name is made up of your forename(s) and surname. That is what appears on a birth certificate, a deed poll, a passport’s name fields and a bank account. A title is something layered on top for politeness and form-filling. There is no register of titles, no law that assigns one to you at birth, and no legal process required to swap one for another.
This is why you can change your title at will. A married woman who prefers Ms over Mrs does not need a court order — she just uses Ms. Someone moving from Mr to Mx is in exactly the same position. The change happens when organisations update their records, not when you sign a document. The friction you may encounter is purely administrative, not legal.
Contrast this with a name change. If you want to be James instead of Jane, that genuinely alters your legal name, and the standard evidence the UK uses for that is an unenrolled deed poll. The dividing line is simple: changing the words before your name (the title) needs no document; changing the name itself does.
How to Change Your Title in Practice
Because there is no legal procedure, “changing your title” really means updating the organisations that hold your details. Work through them one at a time:
- Your employer and HR system — ask payroll or HR to update your title on payslips, email and internal records.
- Your bank and card providers — request the new title on statements and cards (more on Mx below).
- Your GP surgery and the NHS — ask reception to amend your title; this also helps correspondence feel right.
- Utilities, subscriptions and your local council — usually a quick online or phone update.
- HM Passport Office and the DVLA — covered in detail below, as these are identity documents.
A short, polite message is normally enough: “Please update my title on your records to Mx.” Keep a note of which organisations you have contacted so you can chase any that lag behind.
When Documentation Actually Helps
Although the law does not require a deed poll for a title, the real world is messier than the law. Some organisations have rigid systems or cautious staff, and a few will ask for “evidence” before they change anything — even a title. This is not a legal requirement they are enforcing; it is an internal policy. Still, having something in writing can smooth the process.
If an organisation asks for proof, options that often satisfy them include a letter from you confirming the change, a covering note explaining that a title is a matter of personal preference, or — crucially — a deed poll if you are also changing your name. Many people who adopt Mx are doing so as part of a wider change of identity, and in that case the deed poll they obtain for the name change can double up as the document that prompts organisations to update the title at the same time.
In other words: do not buy a deed poll for a title. But if you happen to be getting one for a name change anyway, use that single moment to ask every organisation to fix both your name and your title together. It is far more efficient than two separate rounds of admin.
Adopting “Mx” with Banks, HMPO and the DVLA
“Mx” (commonly pronounced “mix”) is the widely used gender-neutral title in the UK, and acceptance has grown considerably. Here is the honest state of play in 2026.
UK banks
The large UK banks generally offer Mx as a title option, and most can apply it to your account, statements and cards on request. Some smaller providers or legacy systems still lag, so if your bank’s online form does not list Mx, contact them directly — a human can usually set it manually. You should not normally need a deed poll for this; you are changing a title, not a name.
HM Passport Office (HMPO)
HM Passport Office increasingly accepts Mx and will record it as your preferred title where requested. A passport is primarily about your name, date of birth and (currently) gender marker, and a title is not printed on the passport data page. If you are changing your title only, you can ask for Mx to be recorded; if you are also changing your name, you will provide your deed poll for the name and can raise the title in the same application.
The DVLA
The DVLA likewise accepts Mx for driving licence records. As with the others, a title update alone is an administrative request rather than a legal process. If your name is changing too, the deed poll is what evidences the name — the title simply rides along with it.
The pattern across all three is the same: the title is easy; the name is the part that needs a deed poll. If you keep that distinction clear, you will avoid paying for documents you do not need.
When You Genuinely Do Need a Deed Poll
A deed poll is the right tool the moment you want to change your actual name — forename, surname or both. This is extremely common alongside a title change. Someone moving from “Mr John Smith” to “Mx Jamie Smith” is doing two distinct things: adopting a new title (no document needed) and changing a forename (deed poll needed).
In the UK, the standard and accepted method is an unenrolled deed poll. It changes your name the moment you sign it in front of an independent adult witness — someone aged 18 or over who is not a relative, your partner, or anyone living at your address. There is no court, no government department and no solicitor involved, and it is the route used for roughly 98% of UK name changes. It is accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, the NHS, UK banks, employers and schools.
There is also an optional enrolled deed poll, registered at the Royal Courts of Justice and published in the London Gazette, with a fee of around £42-£43. Enrolment is entirely optional and gives no extra legal validity for everyday purposes — the unenrolled version is just as valid. Anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll; under-16s need the consent of everyone with parental responsibility.
If your title change is part of a broader change of identity, you may find our companion guide to changing your name and gender marker for transgender people in the UK helpful — it covers how the name, the title and the gender marker fit together across passports, the NHS and other records.
A Note on Dr and Honorific Titles
“Dr” is slightly different from the everyday titles. It is earned (an academic doctorate or a relevant medical qualification) rather than chosen, so you should only adopt it if you are entitled to it. Like other titles, though, it is still not part of your legal name — you would never use a deed poll to “become Dr”. You simply provide your qualification when an organisation asks. The same honesty applies here as everywhere: a deed poll changes names, not honorifics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a deed poll to change my title from Mr to Mx?
No. A title is not legally part of your name, so no deed poll is required to change Mr to Mx. You can simply ask organisations to record your new title. A deed poll is only needed if you are also changing your actual name.
How do I become Mx in the UK?
Contact each organisation that holds your details — your bank, employer, GP, the DVLA and HM Passport Office — and ask them to record your title as Mx. Most will do this on request. If your name is changing too, get a deed poll for the name and ask them to update both at once.
Will organisations accept my new title without proof?
Many will, because a title is a matter of personal preference. A few have cautious internal policies and may ask for something in writing. That is their policy, not a legal requirement. If you are also changing your name, your deed poll can satisfy any such request.
Is Mx accepted by banks, HMPO and the DVLA?
Yes. UK banks, HM Passport Office and the DVLA all recognise Mx. Occasionally an online form will not list it, in which case contact the organisation directly and a staff member can usually apply it manually.
Can I change my title and my name at the same time?
Yes, and it is the most efficient approach. The title needs no document, while the name change needs a deed poll. When you notify each organisation with your deed poll, ask them to update your title in the same request.
Does an unenrolled deed poll really work without a court or solicitor?
Yes. An unenrolled deed poll is legally valid the moment you sign it before an independent adult witness. No court, government department or solicitor is involved, and it is accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks and the NHS for changing your name.
Ready to Change Your Name?
If your title change comes alongside a genuine change of name, a deed poll is the right tool — and we make it simple. For just £14.49, you’ll receive a legally valid, professionally printed unenrolled deed poll, dispatched the same day if you order before 3pm, with free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. The online application takes around four minutes. Start your adult deed poll application today and join over 160,000 UK customers — and remember, once your name is sorted, asking organisations to record your new title is the easy part.