Changing your name in the UK costs as little as £14.49 - the price of a professionally prepared deed poll. There is no government fee to change your name itself; the only money you might spend after that is on updating individual documents like your passport. This 2026 guide breaks down every cost honestly, so you know exactly what you will pay and where you can pay nothing at all.
How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Name? (Quick Answer)
The short version for anyone in a hurry:
- The name change itself: from £14.49 for a deed poll (or £0 if you draft your own free gov.uk template).
- Government fee to change your name: £0 - there isn’t one.
- Updating your passport: £102 online (only if/when you choose to renew it).
- Updating your driving licence, bank, GP, employer, utilities: free.
So a realistic all-in cost for most people is £14.49 for the deed poll, plus £102 if you also renew your passport - around £116 total. Everything below explains why, and how to keep it as low as possible.
The Only Essential Cost: Your Deed Poll
To change your name legally in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you need a deed poll - a signed, witnessed document that records your change of name. This is the one thing you actually pay for, and the price varies enormously depending on who you use.
| Method | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High-street solicitor | £150-£300+ | Completely unnecessary for a standard name change. |
| Enrolled deed poll (Royal Courts of Justice) | £53.05 court fee + drafting | Optional public-record version; adds 2-3 weeks. Most people don’t need it. |
| Free DIY (gov.uk LOC020 template) | £0 + your printing | Legally valid, but you format, print and supply copies yourself. |
| UK Name Change (online) | £14.49 | Professionally printed, same-day dispatch, accepted everywhere. |
All of these produce a legally valid name change. The difference is presentation, speed and convenience - not legality. You do not need a solicitor, and you do not need to pay hundreds of pounds. If you want to order a deed poll without the solicitor markup, the online route does exactly the same job for £14.49.
Is There a Government Fee to Change Your Name? (No)
This is the single most common misunderstanding about cost. Under UK common law, your name changes the moment you sign a properly witnessed deed poll. There is no application to the government, no approval process, and no fee to change the name itself.
The only government fee that exists in this area is the optional £53.05 charge to enrol your deed poll on the public record at the Royal Courts of Justice. Over 98% of people never do this and it makes no legal difference to whether banks, the Passport Office or HMRC accept your new name.
The Costs That Come After: Updating Your Documents
Once your name is legally changed, you update your records. Some of these have their own fees (set by the organisation, not by the name change), and many are completely free.
British Passport: £102
Updating your passport to your new name costs the standard renewal fee: £102 for an online adult application, or £115.50 if you apply by post. There is no surcharge for the fact that it’s a name change. If you need it urgently, the 1-week Fast Track service is £192 and the 1-day Premium service is £239.50. You only pay this if and when you choose to renew - your existing passport remains valid in your old name until you do.
Driving Licence: FREE
The DVLA does not charge to update the name on your driving licence. You send the original deed poll with the form (or update online where eligible) and a new licence is issued free of charge.
Bank Accounts, HMRC, GP, Employer & Utilities: FREE
Banks, building societies, HMRC, your GP and the NHS, your employer, the electoral roll, your mobile network and utility companies all update your name free of charge. They simply need to see your deed poll. None of them charge a fee to record your new name.
The Hidden Cost: Extra Original Copies
Here is the cost almost everyone overlooks. The Passport Office and most banks require an original deed poll - not a photocopy. If you only have one original, you can’t send it to your bank and the Passport Office at the same time, which slows everything down.
Ordering a few extra original copies up front is far cheaper and faster than ordering replacements later. It’s the difference between updating all your records in one week versus posting a single document around the country for two months.
How Much Does It Cost to Change a Child’s Name?
Changing your child’s name works the same way. A child deed poll from UK Name Change is the same low price, and there is again no government fee for the change itself. The only requirement is that everyone with parental responsibility consents (for under-16s). Updating the child’s passport, school records and NHS records then follows the same free/standard-fee pattern as for adults.
The Cheapest Way to Change Your Name Legally
If your only goal is the lowest possible cost, the free gov.uk LOC020 template is £0 in principle. In practice, most people who try it end up spending on printing, struggle with the formatting, and still need extra originals - which is why a professionally printed deed poll for £14.49 is the genuine sweet spot of price, speed and acceptance. Either way, ignore any service charging £30, £50 or more for a basic adult deed poll: you are simply paying a markup for the identical document.
A Realistic Total Cost Example
Sarah gets married and takes a double-barrelled surname. She wants her passport and driving licence updated. Her costs:
- Deed poll: £14.49
- Passport renewal: £102
- Driving licence: £0
- Bank, HMRC, GP, employer, utilities: £0
Total: £116.49 - and if she didn’t need to renew her passport straight away, just £14.49.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to change your name by deed poll in the UK?
From £14.49 for a professionally prepared deed poll. The change of name itself carries no government fee. A solicitor would charge £150-£300+ for the exact same document, which is why the online route is the standard choice.
Is it free to change your name in the UK?
You can change your name for £0 using the free gov.uk LOC020 template, signed and witnessed correctly. You’ll still pay for printing and for any document renewals (like a passport) that have their own fees. The legal change itself is always free of any government charge.
How much does it cost to change your surname after marriage?
Taking your spouse’s surname can be done with your marriage certificate alone, which costs nothing extra. For anything beyond a straight switch - double-barrelling, a brand-new shared surname, or changing your first name too - you’ll need a £14.49 deed poll.
Does it cost money to change your name on your passport?
Yes - but it’s the standard passport fee (£102 online), not a name-change fee. Your current passport stays valid in your old name until you choose to renew.
What’s the most expensive way to change your name?
Using a solicitor (£150-£300+) or enrolling your deed poll at court (£53.05 plus drafting and a 2-3 week wait) when you don’t need to. For a standard name change, both are money spent for no added legal benefit.
Ready to Change Your Name for £14.49?
Skip the solicitor fees and the gov.uk formatting headache. A professionally printed UK deed poll from UK Name Change is just £14.49, dispatched the same day by tracked Royal Mail, and accepted by the Passport Office, DVLA, banks and every major UK organisation.
