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May 2012. Thanks for the very prompt service. I spoke with an advisor who answered all my questions at 2 am and by the end of the working day all had been sorted.
Lee, Kidsgrove, Stoke-On-Trent.
1. Enrolling your Deed Poll
A few people each year opt to have their Deed Poll 'enrolled' (at an additional cost of up to £70) in the Enrolment Books at the Supreme Court of Judicature, Royal Courts of Justice, London. After five years, an enrolled Deed Poll is transferred from the Royal Courts to the National Archives in Kew, Surrey.
The vast majority of people that change their name choose not to enrol their Deed Poll for the simple reason that doing so can be costly, complex and public.
All enrolled Deed Polls are publicly advertised in either the London or Belfast Gazette (for example your full name and address will be published on the Gazette's website for all to see).
An enrolled Deed Poll also requires the signature to be witnessed by a property owner who has known the signatory for at least ten years, before a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths.
On the other hand, 'unenrolled' Deed Polls simply require the signature to be witnessed by someone independent (for example a friend or neighbour).
An advantage of getting your Deed Poll enrolled is that you can, in theory, acquire a copy if you mislay the original. However, in practice, it can mean a personal visit to London or Surrey to search the archives.
Many people find that an easier and cheaper option is to subscribe to our Archive and Legal Copy Service. Then, if you lose your Deed Poll, we can supply you with a legal copy (also known as a certified copy) which will be accepted by all the departments, companies and organisations that recognised the original.
If you choose not to subscribe to this service and subsequently lose your Deed Poll, you will need to order a replacement. But even this can prove less complex and costly than searching for an enrolled Deed Poll.
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This page was last checked today by Amanda Dawson, Senior Deed Poll Officer.
