Who should you inform?

Your Deed Poll will be accepted by all government departments, companies and organisations as official documentary evidence of your change of name. But who do you need to advise when you have changed your name by Deed Poll? And do you need to supply the original Deed Poll in each case?

The UK Identity and Passport Service, DVLA, banks, building societies, credit card companies, etc will need to see the original Deed Poll (or a legal copy – also known as a certified copy).

When notifying the relevant companies and organisations you should include a brief covering letter explaining that you have changed your name by Deed Poll and are now using the new name 'for all purposes'. An example letter will be enclosed with your Deed Poll documentation.

If you have changed a child's name then you will also need to provide organisations such as the school, doctors and passport office, etc with a letter of consent from each person with parental responsibility. An example letter of consent will be enclosed with your child's Deed Poll documentation.

Listed below are many of the companies and organisations you may need to notify. A full list together with notes on what to do for each, will be included with our Deed Poll pack.

• Your employer.

• HM Revenue & Customs for tax and NI records (obtain your reference and tax office address from your employer).

• School/college/university.

• Doctor.

• Dentist.

• DVLA  (driving licence and vehicle registration document).

• Passport Office (to apply for a new passport).

• Bank.

• Building Society (mortgage and/or savings accounts).

• Utility companies (water, sewage, electricity, gas).

• Telephone company.

• Mobile telephone company.

• Local authority (for council tax and electoral register).

• HM Land Registry (if you own land or property).

• TV licensing office.

• Credit card and store card companies.

• Finance/loan companies.

• Premium Bond office.

• Investment companies.

• Companies you have shares in.

• Pension company, if you have a company pension, then you can get the address from your employer.

• Insurance companies (e.g. motor, medical, life, endowments, buildings, contents, extended warranties etc.).

• Mail-order companies.

• Motoring organisations (The AA, RAC, Green Flag or other breakdown companies).

• Professional institutes and bodies.

• Clubs, societies and associations.

• Internet Service Provider.

• Police (if you have any criminal actions against you or are on the Sex Offenders Register).

Important Note: you cannot change the name shown on your marriage, adoption or decree absolute certificates but, in certain cases, it may be possible to get your birth certificate amended. Examination certificates (e.g. GCSE, degree, etc) cannot be changed.
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Subjects covered in this guide

• Who should you inform?
  
• How do you change your passport?
• How do you change your birth certificate?
• What is legalisation?

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This page was last checked today by Janet Winstanley, Senior Deed Poll Officer.