To make a UK deed poll you need almost nothing: just your current legal name, your chosen new name, and an independent adult witness to sign it with you. You do not have to submit a passport, birth certificate or any other ID to create a valid deed poll. The document is a sworn statement of intent - you sign it, your witness signs it, and that is what makes your name change official. ID only enters the picture afterwards, when you start updating your passport, driving licence and other records in your new name.
That trips a lot of people up, so let’s be precise about what is genuinely needed at each stage - and where the myth that you must “prove who you are” to a deed poll actually comes from.
What you need to make a deed poll
A standard UK adult deed poll is an unenrolled deed poll - the type used for around 98% of name changes in this country. It is a single legal document, and to produce a valid one you only need three things:
1. Your current full name
Exactly as it appears on your existing official records (your passport, birth certificate or current driving licence). Spelling and word order matter, so copy it precisely. Note that a title - Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx or Dr - is not legally part of your name, so you do not need a deed poll to add, drop or change one.
2. Your chosen new name
The full name you intend to use going forward. UK law gives you wide freedom here, with sensible limits: you cannot pick a name that is offensive, that impersonates someone for fraud, that includes numbers or symbols, or that implies a title or honour you don’t hold. First name, middle name(s) and surname can all change in one document.
3. An independent witness
Your deed poll must be signed in front of one witness who is an adult aged 18 or over, is not a relative, is not your partner, and does not live at your address. The witness simply confirms they saw you sign and adds their own name, signature, address and occupation. They do not need to be a solicitor or a notary - paying £150-£300+ to a solicitor for this is completely unnecessary. The rules here are stricter than people expect, so it’s worth reading our full guide on who can legally witness a UK deed poll in 2026 before you sign.
That really is the entire requirement list to create a deed poll. No photo ID, no proof of address, no fee to a court. Anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll; for children under 16, everyone with parental responsibility must consent (that process involves extra documents, which we cover separately).
Why you don’t submit ID to make a deed poll
A deed poll isn’t an application that someone approves - it’s a declaration you make about yourself. By signing it (and traditionally including the wording that you “absolutely and entirely renounce” your old name and will use the new name at all times), you are making a binding legal statement. The witness exists to verify the signing, not to verify your identity. That’s the whole reason no ID is needed at this stage: there is no authority sitting in the middle checking your documents.
If you’d like a fuller explanation of the legal mechanism, our overview of what a deed poll is and how it works walks through it step by step.
What about ordering a deed poll online?
When you order a professionally drafted deed poll from UK Name Change, you simply tell us the details that go onto the document - your current name, your new name, your address and your date of birth. You are not uploading copies of your passport or proof of address; we are not an ID-checking service and a deed poll legally doesn’t require one.
We then print your deed poll on quality paper, ready for you and your witness to sign in wet ink. Our deed polls start from £14.49, with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. Over 160,000 customers have used us, and we hold. You can order your adult deed poll here and have it on its way the same day.
Do you need to enrol your deed poll? (No)
You may have seen mention of “enrolling” a deed poll at the Royal Courts of Justice for £53.05. This is entirely optional. Enrolment publishes your name change publicly in The London Gazette, takes around 2-3 weeks, and adds no legal validity whatsoever. An unenrolled deed poll is already fully accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, the NHS, banks, employers and schools. For the overwhelming majority of people, enrolment is an unnecessary cost and delay.
The documents you’ll need after your deed poll
Here’s where ID finally matters. Once your deed poll is signed, you use it to update your records - and each organisation has its own requirements. The single most important rule: they need the original wet-ink signed deed poll, not a photocopy or scan.
Updating your passport
HM Passport Office requires your original signed deed poll, your current passport and a completed application. A new adult passport costs £102 online or £115.50 by post. If you need it quickly, the 1-week Fast Track service is £192 and the 1-day Premium service is £239.50.
Updating your driving licence
The DVLA needs your original deed poll plus the relevant application form and your current licence. Crucially, updating your name on a UK driving licence is free.
Updating banks, HMRC, the NHS and others
Your bank will want to see the original deed poll, usually alongside one other form of ID. HMRC, the NHS, your employer and your utility providers will all accept the deed poll too - and updating your name with all of these is free. Order a few certified or extra copies if many organisations need to see the original around the same time, though most will sight it and hand it straight back.
Quick summary
To make a deed poll: current name, new name, one independent witness. No ID. To use a deed poll: the original signed document, plus the standard ID each organisation already asks for. That’s the entire picture - nothing else is legally required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send my passport or birth certificate to get a deed poll?
No. You do not submit any ID to create a deed poll. You only provide the name details that appear on the document and sign it with an independent witness. Your passport or birth certificate is only needed later, when you use the finished deed poll to update those specific records.
Do I need a solicitor or my ID notarised?
No. An unenrolled deed poll signed by an ordinary independent witness is fully legal and accepted across the UK. A solicitor would charge £150-£300+ for the same document for no added legal benefit. There is no requirement to have your identity notarised.
What ID does my witness need to show?
Your witness doesn’t show ID either. They simply provide their name, signature, address and occupation on the deed poll, confirming they saw you sign. They must be an independent adult (18+) who isn’t a relative, partner or someone living at your address.
Why does my bank ask for ID if the deed poll doesn’t need it?
Two separate stages are at play. Making the deed poll requires no ID. Using it to update an account does, because the bank has to confirm you are the existing account holder. That ID requirement comes from the bank’s own checks, not from the deed poll itself.
Can I use a photocopy of my deed poll to update records?
Generally no. HM Passport Office, the DVLA and banks all require the original wet-ink signed deed poll, not a photocopy. If several organisations need it at once, order additional original copies so you’re never left without one.
Ready to change your name?
You need far less than you think - just your name details and a willing witness. Skip the solicitor fees and the unnecessary enrolment cost. Order your professionally printed adult deed poll from £14.49, with same-day dispatch before 3pm and free tracked delivery, and start using your new name with confidence.