To change your name in the UK you follow four steps: choose your new name, get a deed poll, sign and witness it correctly, then update your records in a sensible order - starting with your passport and driving licence and working down to your bank, HMRC, GP and employer. There is no court hearing, no solicitor and no government approval required. An unenrolled deed poll - the document around 98% of people use - is legally valid and accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks, the NHS, employers and schools. This guide walks you through every stage.
Step 1: Choose your new name
The first decision is the name itself, and the law is refreshingly flexible. You can change your forename, your surname, or both. You can take a partner’s surname, revert to a maiden name, double-barrel two surnames, change the spelling, or adopt an entirely new name with no family connection at all.
There are only a few sensible limits. Your new name cannot be chosen to defraud, impersonate someone, or promote criminal activity, and it cannot contain numbers, symbols or obscenities. Beyond that, the choice is yours.
One common point of confusion: a title such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx or Dr is not legally part of your name. You do not need a deed poll to start using a different title - simply ask each organisation to update it. A deed poll is only for changing the name itself.
Who can change their name?
Anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll. For a child under 16, everyone with parental responsibility must consent to the change. If you are sorting out a name change for a child, the process is slightly different from the adult route described here.
Step 2: Get your deed poll
A deed poll is the simple legal document that records your decision to abandon your old name and use your new one. It is the “tool” that lets every organisation update your records with confidence.
There are two types, and the distinction matters:
- Unenrolled deed poll - the standard, professionally printed document. It is legally valid on its own and accepted everywhere that matters. This is what roughly 98% of UK name changers use.
- Enrolled deed poll - an optional extra where your name change is registered at the Royal Courts of Justice and published in the London Gazette. Enrolment costs £53.05, takes two to three weeks, and makes your change a matter of public record. Crucially, it adds no extra legal validity - an unenrolled deed poll is just as binding.
You do not need a solicitor. A solicitor would typically charge £150-£300+ for exactly the same document. Our professionally printed adult deed poll starts from £14.49, with same-day dispatch if you order before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. We’ve handled this for more than 160,000 customers.
Why a properly printed document matters
You could in theory write a deed poll yourself, but presentation counts. Passport and bank staff see thousands of documents, and a professionally printed deed poll on quality paper sails through verification with far fewer questions than a home-typed sheet. It removes friction at exactly the points where you most want things to go smoothly.
Step 3: Sign and witness it correctly
This is the step where small mistakes cause big delays, so follow it carefully. A deed poll only becomes legally effective once it is signed and witnessed properly.
- Sign in your new name and your old name using wet ink (a blue or black pen), exactly as instructed on the document. Never use a digital or printed signature.
- Have an independent adult witness it. The witness must be 18 or over and someone who is not a relative, your partner, or anyone living at your address. A colleague, friend or neighbour is ideal.
- Keep the original safe. HM Passport Office, the DVLA and your bank all require the original, wet-ink signed deed poll - not a photocopy or scan. Some organisations accept a certified copy, but the original is what unlocks the high-security ones.
Once signed and witnessed, your deed poll is immediately valid. From that moment your old name is, legally, gone - the remaining work is simply telling everyone.
Step 4: Update your records in the right order
This is where most people overthink things. The trick is to update your “gold standard” photo ID first, then use that updated ID to make the rest of the dominoes fall easily. Tackle them roughly in this order.
1. Passport and driving licence (do these first)
Your passport and driving licence are your most powerful proof of identity, so update them early - almost everything else will accept them as evidence.
- Passport: a standard adult renewal in your new name 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.
- Driving licence: updating your DVLA driving licence to your new name is completely free.
For a fuller breakdown of evidence and exactly what each office needs, see our passport and driving licence update checklist.
2. Bank, building society and credit cards
Contact your bank with your original deed poll (in branch or by post, depending on their process). Updating your accounts, debit and credit cards is free. Doing this early means your new name appears on statements, which then serve as handy proof of address elsewhere.
3. HMRC and your employer
Tell HMRC so your tax records and National Insurance details match - this is free and helps avoid payroll and pension mix-ups. Then notify your employer so your payslips, contract and work email are updated.
4. GP, NHS and the rest
Update your GP surgery and NHS records (free), then work through the remaining list: utilities, mobile and broadband providers, insurance, your pension, the council/electoral roll, subscriptions and any loyalty accounts. None of these charge a fee to change your name.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Update the essentials first, then chip away at the rest over a few weeks. If you’d like a realistic sense of timings, our guide on how long a UK name change takes sets out what to expect at each stage.
Ready to take Step 2?
Steps 1, 3 and 4 are all in your hands - the one thing you need to make it official is the deed poll itself. Get your professionally printed, legally valid deed poll from UK Name Change from just £14.49, dispatched the same day when you order before 3pm, with free tracked delivery. It’s the simplest, fastest way to start your new name with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to change your name in the UK?
The only essential cost is the deed poll, which starts from £14.49 with UK Name Change. Updating your driving licence, bank, HMRC, NHS records and employer is free. A new passport in your new name costs £102 online. Enrolment at the Royal Courts of Justice (£53.05) and using a solicitor (£150-£300+) are both optional and unnecessary.
Do I need a solicitor to change my name?
No. A solicitor would simply produce the same deed poll for £150-£300 or more. There is no legal requirement to involve one - a professionally printed unenrolled deed poll is just as valid and accepted everywhere.
Is an unenrolled deed poll legally valid?
Yes. An unenrolled deed poll is fully legally valid and is accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks, the NHS, employers and schools. Around 98% of UK name changes use one. Enrolment is optional and adds no legal weight.
Who can witness my deed poll?
Your witness must be an independent adult aged 18 or over - not a relative, your partner, or anyone who lives at your address. A friend, neighbour or colleague is perfect. They watch you sign and then add their own signature.
Do I need a deed poll to change my title to Mr, Mrs or Mx?
No. A title is not legally part of your name, so you can change it just by asking each organisation to update its records. A deed poll is only needed to change your actual forename or surname.
Can a 16-year-old change their own name?
Yes. Anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll. For a child under 16, everyone with parental responsibility must consent to the change.
Start your name change today
Now you know all four steps, the rest is easy. Order your legally valid, professionally printed adult deed poll from £14.49 with same-day dispatch and free tracked delivery - and join the 160,000+ people who’ve already changed their name the simple way.
