Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about our Deed Poll service.

When your deed poll arrives, it must be:

Signed by you in the presence of a witness
Dated by you in the presence of a witness
Signed by your witness

Once signed, dated and witnessed, you can use your deed poll to update your legal records.

You must have an independent person witness you executing (signing) your deed poll. Your witness will need to provide:

Their full name
Their home address (or business address for professionals)
Their occupation
Their signature

They don’t need to be a professional (like a solicitor or doctor), but they must:

Be over 18
Not be related to you
Not live at the same address

Examples of suitable people:

A work colleague
A neighbour
An unrelated friend

Examples of unsuitable people:

Your mother
Your partner (whether married or not)
Your house mate

No, you do not need a solicitor. Your witness can be anyone who is at least 18, knows you, and is independent (not a relative, partner, or someone living with you). A friend, neighbour, or work colleague works perfectly.

If you’re not British and live in the UK, check with your Embassy to see if your deed poll requires a solicitor or notary public. And if an Apostille is needed, it must be witnessed by a practicing UK solicitor or notary public.

Yes, our Deed Polls are accepted by all official UK record holders, including HM Passport Office.

The only additional cost is the fee for getting your passport reissued in your new name.

No – your new passport and driving licence will be issued without any reference to your previous name.

Your credit rating won’t be affected. When applying for credit or loans, you’ll be asked if you have ever used a former name – this lets lenders access your credit history. In addition, when you notify your bank of your change, they update the credit reference agencies.

Yes, you can change your name even if you’re an undischarged bankrupt. However, if you’re self-employed and trading under your new name, you must inform all your business contacts of the name under which you were made bankrupt. You can’t simply switch names and continue trading without disclosing your former name. Once discharged from bankruptcy, this requirement no longer applies – though you must still notify the Official Receiver.