Changed Your Name Years Ago, But No Deed Poll?

Because of the contemporaneous-document rule. HM Passport Office accepts an unenrolled deed only where it is a contemporaneous document, one made at the time the change happened. A deed signed now cannot, on its own, evidence a change you made years ago. Their guidance then says that if you do not have contemporaneous evidence showing every link between your old and new names, including multiple changes, you must provide a statutory declaration. Our guide covers what HM Passport Office accepts when you changed your name years ago.

Three documents. A change of name deed, to be signed in both your old and your new name in front of a witness. A statutory declaration of your name history, carrying the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 formula and signed in your new name only. And a checklist of the evidence of use HM Passport Office asks to see alongside it. You get one original of each, posted free by Royal Mail Tracked 24.

The statutory fee is £5 for each declaration taken, inclusive of VAT where payable (SI 1993/2297). Your documents are described in the declaration rather than produced with it, so there is nothing for the officer to mark and no further statutory fee arises. Some firms add their own admin charge, which is the firm's own and not part of the statutory fee. You pay the solicitor or commissioner for oaths directly, not us. We break the numbers down in what a statutory declaration costs in the UK.

Within England and Wales, any solicitor or commissioner for oaths can administer the oath. You only need a notary if the document is going overseas. We cannot administer the oath ourselves: it is a reserved legal activity and we are a document service, not a person authorised to carry it out, which is why we post the document to you to swear locally.

They do different jobs. A deed of change of name records the change itself, so it is signed in both your old and your new name in front of a witness. A statutory declaration is a sworn statement of fact made by you as you are now, so it is signed in your new name only, in front of the person administering the oath.

No. This pack is for names on UK documents. Where a name is spelled differently on a foreign passport or a foreign birth certificate, HM Passport Office requires evidence from the authority that issued that document, and a declaration sworn in England or Wales will not resolve it. Please contact us before ordering if that is your situation, so you do not pay for something that cannot help.

Yes. The declaration of name history sets out your names in order, so every link between the name you were given and the name you use now sits on a single document. Tell us each name you have used and roughly when you began using it, and we will draft it to follow that chain.

Probably not. If there was never a change, and the name is simply recorded differently in different places (a spelling variant, a missing middle name, or a forename and surname the wrong way round), then there is no change to evidence. What you need is a name discrepancy declaration, which states that both versions refer to the same person. Our guide explains when a name is simply spelled differently on different documents. Ask us if you are unsure which one describes you.

Some do name both. Nationwide's name change form, for example, states that to record a change to any forename you must produce a deed poll or a statutory declaration. Every organisation sets its own requirements, though, so it is worth checking what yours asks for before you send anything. If your change is happening now rather than years ago, a standard adult deed poll is all you need, or a child deed poll if it is your child's name that is changing.

Not yet — online ordering opens shortly. It will be £24.99 including VAT, with free Royal Mail Tracked 24 delivery. If you need the pack before then, contact us with the names you have used and roughly when, and we will arrange it.