If you have lost your deed poll, you cannot get an official copy of it — but you can get a replacement deed poll today, and every organisation will accept it. An unenrolled deed poll is a private document: there is no register that holds one for you, and a photocopy or scan is not accepted where an original is required. A replacement deed poll is simply a new deed poll that confirms the same change of name, signed and witnessed afresh. HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC and UK banks accept it exactly as they accepted the original. This guide explains the difference between a copy and a replacement, which one you need, and what each organisation will ask for.
Checked against GOV.UK and HM Passport Office guidance, September 2026. England and Wales unless stated; Scotland and Northern Ireland differences are noted where they apply.
Copy, replacement or court copy — which applies to you?
| What you have | Can you get a copy? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| An unenrolled deed poll (almost everyone) | No official copy exists — nobody registered it | Order a replacement deed poll confirming the same change |
| A deed poll enrolled at the Royal Courts of Justice | Yes — the court holds it | Apply to the court for an official copy (fee applies); it was also published in The Gazette |
| A digital copy in your provider account | For reference only | Use it to confirm the exact names and date; organisations still need a wet-ink original |
| A deed poll made years ago, and HM Passport Office wants evidence from the time | No | The retrospective deed poll pack: a deed plus a sworn statutory declaration of your name history |
Copy or replacement — the difference
- A copy means a reproduction of the original document you signed. For an unenrolled deed poll — which is what almost everyone has — no official copy exists anywhere, because nobody registered it. If you ordered from a provider that keeps a digital copy in your account (UK Name Change does), you can download it for reference, but organisations that need an original will not accept a print-out of a scan.
- A replacement is a new deed poll recording the same change: your former name, your current name and the fact that you have used the current name since the original change. It is signed in wet ink in front of an independent adult witness, which is what makes it an original. It is the standard answer to a lost deed poll.
- An enrolled deed poll is the exception. If you enrolled yours at the Royal Courts of Justice (a minority do), an official copy exists on the court's records and you can apply to the court for one, for a fee. Enrolment was also published in The Gazette, which is a public record of the change but not a document organisations accept in place of the deed.
What each organisation will accept
HM Passport Office asks for an original document evidencing the change. A replacement deed poll satisfies this for a change made recently. For a change made years ago, the Passport Office applies its contemporaneous-document rule: it wants evidence from the time the change happened, and a deed signed today is not enough on its own. In that case it asks for a statutory declaration of your name history alongside the deed — which is exactly what the retrospective deed poll pack provides. Our guide to what HM Passport Office accepts sets out the rule in full.
The DVLA asks for the original with form D1 and returns it; a replacement deed poll is accepted. HMRC and the DWP update their records from a copy or a replacement without difficulty. Banks and building societies want to see an original in branch; a replacement is fine. Employers, pension providers and utility companies generally keep a copy and will accept a replacement or, in many cases, a clear scan.
The two routes, and how to choose
Route 1: the change was recent — order a replacement deed poll today
Order a standard deed poll for £14.49. On the form, enter your former name in the current-name fields and your current name in the new-name fields, so the document mirrors the change your lost deed poll recorded. It is printed and posted the same working day and is accepted everywhere the original was. Order a few extra originals at the same time so you are never in this position again.
Route 2: the change was years ago — use the retrospective pack
If your lost deed poll dates from years back and you have been asked for evidence from the time — typically by HM Passport Office — a deed signed today will not settle it alone. The retrospective deed poll pack (£24.99) gives you the deed, a sworn statutory declaration of your name history, and a checklist of the supporting evidence the Passport Office looks for. That combination is what their guidance asks for when the contemporaneous document is missing.
Step by step
- Check whether it was enrolled. If you paid a court fee and it appeared in The Gazette, apply to the Royal Courts of Justice for a copy instead of replacing it.
- Check your account. If you ordered online, log in: many providers keep a digital copy, which confirms the exact names and date you will need for the replacement.
- Decide the route using the table above: recent change, replacement deed poll; old change with evidence demanded, retrospective pack.
- Sign it properly in front of an independent adult witness (not a relative, partner or housemate) — the same rules as the original.
- Keep one original at home and order enough extra originals to send to several organisations at once. See how many copies you need, and use the free name change checklist to see who will ask for it.
Does a replacement deed poll change anything legally?
No. Your name changed when you first started using it under the original deed poll; the replacement simply documents that change again so you can prove it. It does not restart any clock, it does not affect documents already issued in your current name, and organisations do not need to be told that the original was lost. It is treated as your deed poll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a copy of my lost deed poll?
Not an official one, unless it was enrolled at the Royal Courts of Justice. An unenrolled deed poll has no central register. A digital copy in your provider account is useful for reference but is not accepted as an original.
What is a replacement deed poll?
A new deed poll confirming the same change of name — former name to current name — signed and witnessed afresh. Every UK organisation accepts it in place of the lost original.
Will the Passport Office accept a replacement deed poll?
For a recent change, yes. For a change made years ago, the Passport Office asks for evidence from the time and a statutory declaration of your name history, which is what the retrospective deed poll pack provides.
How much does a replacement deed poll cost?
A standard replacement deed poll is £14.49 with free tracked delivery. The retrospective pack, for older changes that need a statutory declaration, is £24.99.
Do I need to tell anyone the original was lost?
No. Organisations simply need a valid original in front of them. The replacement is your deed poll for all purposes.
How do I avoid losing it again?
Order extra originals when you order the deed poll, keep one at home that is never sent anywhere, and keep a digital copy for reference. Most people find four to six originals covers every organisation at once.
Ready to Change Your Name?
UK Name Change provides a professionally printed unenrolled deed poll from just £14.49, accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC and every UK bank. The online order takes around 4 minutes, with same-day dispatch before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. More than 160,000 people across the UK have already changed their name with us.
