Cohabitation

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• We draft a deed poll for you to sign with 2 witnesses (18+, ideally not relatives / living at your address). You can use it straight away.
   
• Some organisations accept an unenrolled deed poll; a few prefer an enrolled one — check if they have a policy.
   

• We apply to the High Court to enrol your deed; your new name is published in The Gazette (you can ask the court to limit what’s published in specific circumstances).
   

• Passport: HM Passport Office accepts a deed poll, statutory declaration or affidavit, plus evidence you’re using the new name.
   
• Driving licence: update with DVLA (send your old licence + the application form).
   
• Marriage/divorce: you can change passport without a deed poll using your marriage/civil partnership certificate, or revert after divorce/dissolution using the Final Order + earlier evidence — or use a deed poll if you prefer.
   
• If you’re on the sex offenders register: you must tell the police if you change your name.
   

• To change a child’s name you can make an unenrolled deed (via solicitor/agency) or enrol it with the court. If the child is 16–17, they can make their own unenrolled deed poll.
   
• For enrolment you’ll need agreement of everyone with parental responsibility or a court order.
   
• Parental Responsibility (PR): mothers have PR automatically; most fathers do if married to the mother or named on the birth certificate for births registered after 1 Dec 2003 (England & Wales).
   
• Passports: HM Passport Office usually needs consent from everyone with PR to issue a child’s passport in a new name; otherwise you’ll need a court order authorising the change. 
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• Apply to the Family Court for a Specific Issue Order (Form C100).
   

Adults — Unenrolled deed poll

1. We take your instructions and prepare your deed.
    
2. You sign in front of 2 witnesses (18+), who sign too.
    
3. We provide certified copies for banks, HM Passport Office and DVLA.
    
4. You update documents (passport, driving licence, HMRC, employer, GP, banks).
    

Adults — Enrolled deed poll

1. We submit the online/post application and supporting documents.
    
2. You sign the LOC020 deed in front of 2 witnesses and return the forms to the Royal Courts of Justice.
    
3. Once approved, your deed is sealed and a notice is published in The Gazette.
    

Children

1. We check PR and try to secure written consent from everyone with PR.
    
2. We prepare the child deed poll (and enrolment paperwork if needed). Fee: £50.32 to enrol.
    
3. If consent isn’t possible, we issue C100 for a Specific Issue Order.
    

Do I have to enrol my deed poll?
No — enrolling is optional. It simply puts your new name on the public record (The Gazette). Many organisations accept unenrolled deed polls. 

How many witnesses do I need?
For an unenrolled deed poll you need 2 witnesses (18+). Enrolment forms also require 2 witnesses. 

Will HM Passport Office accept my deed poll?
Yes, HMPO accepts deed polls, statutory declarations and affidavits, with proof you’re using the new name. (For children, HMPO requires consent from all with PR or a court order.) 

Can I just use my marriage certificate to change my name on ID?
Yes — for taking your spouse/partner’s name, use your marriage/civil partnership certificate. To revert after divorce/dissolution, use the Final Order; a deed poll is optional. 

What if a bank won’t accept my self-made deed poll?
Some organisations prefer an enrolled deed poll — ask their policy first, or we can enrol it for you. 

Is anything off-limits for new names?
Yes — names must be pronounceable and not offensive or full of symbols/numbers (beyond normal punctuation like O’Hara or hyphens). 

• Drafting adult and child deed polls (unenrolled & enrolled)
   
• Managing High Court enrolment
   
• Specific Issue Order applications where consent is missing
   
• Certified copies and a checklist to update passport, DVLA, HMRC, banks and employers
   
• Fixed-fee packages for straightforward cases