Information on changing your name

Changing a name by Deed Poll at any time

This doesn’t change a person’s name on their birth certificate and is effectively a
legal document that declares that the person wishes to be known by a new name and
intends, from the date of the deed, to be known by that name. It is signed by the
person who wishes to change their name in front of a witness. Lawyers can draw this
up for you and packs are available if you wish to do the work yourself.

Changing a name by statutory Declaration at any time

Again, this doesn’t change a person’s name on their birth certificate but is a legal
document that declares that the person wishes to be known by a new name and
intends, from the date of the declaration, to be known by that name. It is signed by
the person who wishes to change their name in front of a Commissioner (e.g. any
qualified solicitor) who “witnesses” it

The magistrates court can also Witnesses a statutory declaration and charge a fee of around £5.00