- May 2013. What a quick and wonderfull service, no hassle at all and you make it very easy and all the help is there if you need it. thank you very much.
Jennifer, Paisley, Renfrewshire.
What is a Deed Poll?
A Deed Poll is a legal document; it is not a certificate. Although a Deed Poll is a form of legal contract, it’s different from other legal contracts in that a Deed Poll concerns just a single individual and requires that person's signature in the presence of a witness.
Deed Poll documents are used for a range of different purposes relating to an individual or a company legally committing themselves to doing something.
However Deed Polls have one generally accepted meaning: they provide evidence for a change of name.
The correct legal name for a Deed that’s been drawn up to change a name is a ‘Deed of Change of Name’, but these days it’s far more commonly known simply as a ‘Deed Poll’.
What you are declaring when you change your name by Deed Poll
A Deed Poll for a change of name contains three declarations. By ‘executing’ the Deed Poll (i.e. signing, dating and having your signature witnessed) you are legally committing yourself to:
- Abandoning the use of your former name
- Using your new name only and at all times in the future
- Requiring all persons to address you by your new name
Importantly our Deed Poll documents carry our official seal, so there is no question about their authenticity.
In summary, a Deed Poll issued by us provides documentary evidence that you have legally changed your name. As a result our Deed Polls allow you to change all your official documents and records to your new name.
Although a Deed Poll is an English legal document, our Deed Poll documents are recognised by all government departments, companies and organisations throughout the United Kingdom. Our Deed Polls are also recognised by British Embassies and High Commissions around the world.
This page was last checked today by Miranda O'Hara, Senior Deed Poll Officer.