How does deed poll work

For more information about prices, see the current price list. Almost all record holders will update your records free of charge, including the DVLA.

However, you would receive a new year passport or 5-year passport for a child. HM Passport Office will also add any remaining time left on your passport to your new passport, up to a maximum of 9 months. We aim to process your application and despatch the order within 2 working days of receiving it. Thus you can normally expect the deed poll to arrive within 3—4 working days, with standard First Class delivery. With the priority service, applications are processed and despatched the same working day — provided your order was received before 3 p.

If your order is received after 3 p. The whole process of updating your records with all record holders usually takes 3—8 weeks, depending on how promptly you do it. We recommend that you order several duplicates of your deed poll so that you can notify several record holders at once — having only one copy of the deed poll will slow down the process considerably.

HM Passport Office generally processes applications within 3 weeks. You can choose to pay more to have your application processed more quickly. If you are in a rush, you can apply in person at one of the 7 regional HM Passport Office customer service centres using their Premium one-day service. Note that you will need to make an appointment beforehand. The DVLA normally processes driving licence applications within 3 weeks. No, there is no such thing as an official deed poll office or deed poll service.

There is a lot of confusion about what a deed poll is — it is a legal document — not a certificate; and any solicitor could also prepare a deed poll for you. Changing your name officially means that you change it for all purposes , to be the name on your passport, driving licence, and so on. A deed poll is a means to accomplishing that fact.

Our deed polls are accepted by all official bodies in the U. No — a deed poll is proof that you have changed your name, but it is not a proof of identity. However, if you have changed your name, it is used as evidence of your identity in conjunction with other identity documents, such as your birth certificate or your passport.

A deed poll is a legal document , which is ultimately authenticated by you and your witness — it is not a certificate. When you present your deed poll as evidence of your new name, you always have to produce your identification documents as well. Note that when any organisation has to establish your identity, such as HM Passport Office or the DVLA , and your application involves more than one name change, they will insist on seeing all your deed polls, as well as your identification documents, because they need evidence of each link from the name on your identification documents to your current name.

So although there is some value in us seeing your documents, it does not justify the risk or expense of sending them through the post. When you use your deed poll to update your documents in your new name, you always have to produce your identification documents as well. A deed poll is not a certificate, and we are not a certifying authority — a deed poll is a legal document which is ultimately authenticated by you and your witness.

If we did insist on seeing proof of consent, it would make little to no difference to the status of your deed poll. So although there is some value in us seeing it, it does not justify the risk or expense of sending them through the post. Note that we consider it an important and valuable part of our service to establish who has parental responsibility, and under what legislation. Few organisations, other than HM Passport Office, have a complete understanding of all the rules governing parental responsibility, except in the most simple cases.

No, your deed poll is valid once you have signed it in front of a witness — you do not need to send it back to us. Yes — when you make a deed poll application you can specify how many duplicates of your deed poll you would like to order. Each duplicate is an original document and must be executed signed in front of a witness in the same way and at the same time. After your application has been processed we cannot re-issue your deed poll.

Thus it is important to order a sufficient number of duplicates when you make your application. When you come to having your records updated, many record holders will insist on seeing an original deed poll. Ordering several duplicate originals therefore lets you notify several record holders at once — having only one copy of the deed poll will slow down the process considerably.

Exactly how many duplicates you should order depends on how quickly you want to have your records updated. Note that each duplicate is an original document and must be executed in the same way and at the same time.

Once your deed poll has been executed signed in front of a witness , if you want a copy of it you will have to get a certified copy from a magistrate or a Commissioner for Oaths, which is normally more expensive. When you order a deed poll through us, though, we give you the opportunity to order duplicate originals of your deed poll.

These are original deed poll documents and so of course, each one needs to be signed and witnessed i. Read more about certified copies. Apart from these conditions, your witness could be anyone — a friend, neighbour, or colleague, for example. A notary public will generally charge more. If you want to find solicitor or notary public in your area, you can contact the relevant society or faculty office:. Yes, your deed poll will be accepted by HM Passport Office. However, note that your passport application will be rejected if:.

Note that if you live in Jersey, the Jersey Passport Office requires deed polls to be witnessed by a solicitor or notary public. If you are a British national living abroad, or you are a foreign national, you should read our advice on nationality restrictions. You may also need to have it legalised which means having an apostille attached to it.

Whether or not you need to have this done is a question for the organisation or authority that you want to show the deed poll to. When you go through border control, you need to have a valid passport in your current name. No, not unless you have a specific need to prove a change of name that happened in the past, e. Otherwise, you just need to make sure you have a valid passport in your current name, and that all your tickets, visas, travel insurance, etc.

No, there is no obligation to hold a U. However, it is a very effective identity document, because HM Passport Office are known for carrying out very stringent checks on your identity, and for child applications whether you have obtained consent from everyone with parental responsibility. No, not normally. However, there are some limited circumstances in which they will record both your current name, and your previous name:. By family deed poll we take to mean a single deed poll changing the surname of a whole family.

We do not think family deed polls are a good idea because eventually — when children grow up and become adults — they need their own deed poll document whenever they need to prove their identity. However there are reduced rates for family members who apply at the same time. The reduction is calculated so as to give the lowest possible combined price. Once you are discharged from bankruptcy, or your Debt Relief Order is lifted, you are no longer subject to these restrictions, and you can change your name in the normal way.

Yes, you can change your name by deed poll, but you must tell the police about your change of name. Yes, you can change your name by deed poll — having a criminal record does not prevent you in any way.

However there are cases where you must tell certain bodies about your change of name:. Offenders were also placed on probation in Scotland for offences committed before 1 st February Since that date, Community Payback Orders have been used instead.

You must tell your Social Worker about your change of name. Community Payback Orders have been used for offences in Scotland committed since 1 st February You must tell the police within 3 days of your change of name.

Failure to do so is a criminal offence, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. There are some differences in Scottish law about parental responsibility that apply to children who were born in Scotland, and to some extent to children who live in Scotland.

There are also differences between other regions of the U. If you don't have any questions and you want to get started on your deed poll order, click on the button below. However, if you do have some questions about the deed poll process, we have put together this informative guide to help you.

You can use a deed poll to update your name on important documents like your passport, drivers license , with your employer for payroll, etc. Depending on the reason and circumstances of your name change, you may or may not need a deed poll. Or you were living in France when you got married, and your certificate is in French. You could go through the complicated procedure to replace or translate your marriage certificate.

Or, you could get a deed poll, which would be considerably easier and cheaper. The first option is to hire a solicitor and have them apply on your behalf. The second option, which is easier and cheaper, is to order a deed poll online, through a deed poll service like ours, UK Deed Poll Office. Fill out our easy and secure online application form here.

You can pay using our secure payment system with your debit card, credit card, or Paypal. We will send a document along with your Deed Poll that will show you how to execute have the witnesses sign your Deed Poll so that your change of name becomes fully valid. You now have all you need to officially change your name with any official organization. Now that you know how to apply for a deed poll you should be aware of some restrictions when it comes to changing your name.

Overview You do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name. Print entire guide. Related content Change the name or gender on your driving licence Change your name or personal details on your passport. Explore the topic Certificates, register offices, changes of name or gender Marriage, civil partnership and divorce. Is this page useful? Maybe Yes this page is useful No this page is not useful. Thank you for your feedback. Report a problem with this page.

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