For around 98% of people, the answer is the unenrolled deed poll. Both an enrolled and an unenrolled deed poll change your name with identical legal effect - the difference is that enrolling adds an optional £53.05 step that publishes your name change on a public register. This 2026 guide compares the two properly, so you can decide in two minutes which one you need (and why most people don’t need to enrol at all).
The Quick Answer
- Unenrolled deed poll - private, instant, free (or £14.49 professionally printed), accepted by the Passport Office, DVLA, HMRC, banks and everyone else. This is what almost everyone needs.
- Enrolled deed poll - the same document, plus a £53.05 registration at the Royal Courts of Justice that publishes your old name, new name and address in the London Gazette. Adds 2-3 weeks. No extra legal power.
If that already answers it, you want the unenrolled route. If you want the detail - or you think you might be one of the rare cases that benefits from enrolling - read on.
At a Glance: The Comparison
| Feature | Unenrolled | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|
| Legally valid? | Yes | Yes (identical effect) |
| Cost | Free DIY, or £14.49 printed | £53.05 court fee + drafting |
| Speed | Valid the moment you sign | 2-3 weeks to register |
| Privacy | Private - no public record | Published in the London Gazette (public) |
| Accepted by HMPO/DVLA/banks? | Yes | Yes |
| Who uses it? | ~98% of name changes | A small minority |
The Unenrolled Deed Poll (The Standard Choice)
An unenrolled deed poll is a signed, witnessed legal document declaring that you’ve abandoned your old name and adopted a new one. It takes legal effect the instant you sign it in front of an independent adult witness - no court, no solicitor, no government approval. For a full explainer, see our guide to what an unenrolled deed poll is and why it’s legal. Its advantages:
- Private - your name change isn’t published anywhere.
- Instant - legally effective on signing.
- Cheap - free if you use the gov.uk LOC020 template, or £14.49 for a professionally printed version.
- Universally accepted - HM Passport Office, DVLA, HMRC, every UK bank, the NHS, employers and schools.
The Enrolled Deed Poll (The Public-Record Option)
An enrolled deed poll is the same name change, registered with the Senior Courts (Royal Courts of Justice) and published in the London Gazette. It costs £53.05 and takes 2-3 weeks. The trade-offs - and the reason most people avoid it - are covered fully in our guide to what an enrolled deed poll is and why you probably don’t want one. In short:
- It’s public. Your old name, new name and address go on a permanent public record.
- It’s slower and pricier than an unenrolled deed poll.
- It adds no legal power. An unenrolled deed poll is just as valid everywhere.
If your interest is purely the cost, our breakdown of the high court deed poll cost and whether enrolment is worth it goes deeper.
The Verdict: Which Do You Need?
- Changing your name for marriage, divorce, gender transition, or personal choice? Unenrolled.
- Updating your passport, licence, bank, HMRC or NHS records? Unenrolled - all of them accept it.
- Want it done today, privately, for as little as possible? Unenrolled.
There is no everyday situation where an unenrolled deed poll is “not enough”.
When Should You Actually Enrol?
Enrolment genuinely helps in only a few narrow cases:
- You expect a future dispute about the name change (for example a contested situation where a permanent public record is useful evidence years later).
- A specific foreign authority insists on it for international document recognition (rare).
- You specifically want a public, official-register entry - a personal preference, not a requirement.
If none of these apply to you, you don’t need to enrol. And you certainly don’t need the UK government at all to change your name - see do you need gov.uk to change your name? for the full picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an unenrolled deed poll legally valid?
Yes - it has identical legal effect to an enrolled one. It’s the standard route for around 98% of UK name changes and is accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC and all UK banks.
How much does it cost to enrol a deed poll?
The court fee is £53.05 in 2026, plus any drafting cost, and it takes 2-3 weeks. An unenrolled deed poll costs nothing extra to be valid (or £14.49 professionally printed).
Does enrolling make my name change “more official”?
No. Enrolment adds a public record, not legal power. An unenrolled deed poll is equally official to every UK organisation.
Will I lose privacy if I enrol?
Yes - an enrolled deed poll is published in the London Gazette, putting your old name, new name and address on a permanent public record. The unenrolled route keeps your change private.
Do passports and banks need an enrolled deed poll?
No. Both accept unenrolled deed polls. See our guides on enrolment and passports and enrolment and banks.
Get Your Deed Poll Today - £14.49
For 98% of people, the unenrolled deed poll is the right, private, instant choice. A professionally printed UK deed poll from UK Name Change is £14.49, dispatched the same day by tracked Royal Mail, and accepted by the Passport Office, DVLA, banks and all UK organisations - no £53.05 court fee, no public record, no waiting.
