A transsexuals' name change rights

If you are a transsexual, and you have arrived at the stage where you are ready to live permanently in your acquired gender, you will want to change your name officially. We provide a confidential service for transsexuals who wish to change their name by Deed Poll. 

Your Deed Poll document will enable you to get all your official documents and records changed to your new name including your passport, driving licence, bank account and medical records, etc.

You can also change your title when you change your name by Deed Poll. For example, if you are a male-to-female transsexual, it is perfectly legal for you to change your title to ‘Miss’, ‘Ms’ or ‘Mrs’ when you change your name. You will find a section on our Deed Poll application form where you can tell us which new title you want so we can incorporate a change of title declaration on your Deed Poll.

Why use a Deed Poll to change your name?

A Deed Poll is the preferred choice for transsexuals who wish to change their legal name and title. An alternative (but more complicated) method is a Statutory Declaration which needs to be sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths or Justice of the Peace.

A Deed Poll is much more straightforward in that it simply needs to be signed in the presence of an independent witness such as a friend. Because this can be done in the privacy of your own home, a Deed Poll tends to be quicker, cheaper and easier (and more discreet) than having to get a Statutory Declaration officially sworn at a solicitor’s office.

Please note, although a Deed Poll officially changes your name and title, it doesn’t change your official gender. This can only be done by obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate from the Gender Recognition Panel.

What an official name change by Deed Poll does, however, is assist in demonstrating to the Gender Recognition Panel that you are permanently living in your acquired gender.

Similarly, changing your name and title by Deed Poll doesn’t change your marital status.  If you are a single male and you change your title to ‘Mrs’, your marital status remains as single.

What you should do next

When you are ready to change your name and title by Deed Poll, please click here for a summary of the Deed Poll process.

This page was last checked today by Julia Morgan, Senior Deed Poll Officer.