Deed Poll - name change

srcandas

Hope this is ok here.

My brother wants to change his name. I notice on the internet that you can do it online and at a very reduced price compared to using a solicitor. (My brother refuses to use the internet or a mobile phone so that is why I am investigating on his behalf).

Can anyone advise me as to whether these on-line services are valid and work.

It seems odd to me that you can obtain a deed poll changing your name without proving who you are! (it appears you just complete the form, pay and get sent the copies you want; for the life of me can't see the difference if you scribbled it on the back of a fag packet). Or is in reality a deed poll nothing more than a bit of paper that has no value until you use it to register your name change with some official body - and then very little?

Also can changing your name lead to lots of problems due to your new name having no history and confusion created by the existence of the two entities?

My brother is only changing his first name (don't ask why) and is retired and single so I guess it is less of a hassle than usual.

Any help very much appreciated :beer:

bryanb

No need for deed poll really, just announce my name is ............. He can never change his legal name for government/ National ins number etc

realised

My partner changed his name recently via deed poll (some irregularities on his IDs) and we used an online deed poll website to do it.

Afterwards, I heard that all you really need is just a letter that says something along the lines of, "From this day forward I shall be known as ...blah" and that works just as well (although don't quote me on that! I'm not sure how true it is).

My partner needed to change his name on his passport pretty urgently and they require proof of the name change, we decided not to take the risk and paid for it (approx £30?).

I think if your brother wants to change his name on all his official documents too (passports, driving licenses etc), they only accept "official" documents as proof.

The company we used was the UK deed poll service and they sent out a letter which had words to that effect and we received it within 2 days? Pretty good!:T

srcandas

bryanb wrote: »

No need for deed poll really, just announce my name is ............. He can never change his legal name for government/ National ins number etc

Tx bryan. I noted that there was no reference to updating HMRC but you can change your passport and even your birth cert. although the latter is more problematical I think.

But if you change your name for everything accept HMRC how do you prove to HMRC who you are?

I know people do it to stand for the only sensible honest political party in the country - The raving loonies but I assume they change them back afterwards.

All seems a lot of hassle to me. Anyone gone through this and has any bad experiences? All info much appreciated.

claire16c

I changed my name with HMRC after I got married. I simply went on their website and filled a form in. As I wanted my new name to match up with any new payslips, and then p45s, tax refund requests etc.

They ask you to prove who you are, by asking you to fill in details from your P45, payslips etc.

You then get an email back about a week later to say theyve updated it against your national insurance number etc.

srcandas

realised wrote: »

My partner changed his name ........

My partner needed to change his name on his passport pretty urgently and they require proof of the name change, we decided not to take the risk and paid for it (approx £30?).

Thanks realised. I see now it is £15 and one site will do it for a fiver!

Did your partner ever have hassle with HMRC having his old name?

And did he change his name with his financial bits? (banks, cards, etc.)

:beer:

claire16c

My sis in law changed her name with a deed poll and she changed her name on all her financial stuff.

I guess it depends whether the person just wants to be known informally or formally as the new name. I mean if you just want your mates to call you it, I wouldnt bother!

srcandas

claire16c wrote: »

My sis in law changed her name with a deed poll and she changed her name on all her financial stuff.

I guess it depends whether the person just wants to be known informally or formally as the new name. I mean if you just want your mates to call you it, I wouldnt bother!

Clair my brother is a loner. His greatest enjoyment is winding up officialdom. Woe betide any of them who misspell his new or old name.

He has always disliked his middle names (traditionally two uncle's names in our family) and he already uses a shortened first name anyway. But this is a guy you cannot argue with.

If the HMRC thing is real and he cannot change it there then war will be declared. But clearly married ladies do so as you have Clare. Can't believe it is restricted to ladies?

srcandas

Looked at HMRC and they offer online and written name change. Unfortunately while it doesn't say there is a restriction they do continually refer to dates of marriage, divorce and separation.

This could get tricky me thinks

Guess I need a deed poll namechanger who has tried HMRC. Anyone?

And cheers to everyone so far :beer:

claire16c

srcandas wrote: »

Looked at HMRC and they offer online and written name change. Unfortunately while it doesn't say there is a restriction they do continually refer to dates of marriage, divorce and separation.

This could get tricky me thinks

Guess I need a deed poll namechanger who has tried HMRC. Anyone?

And cheers to everyone so far :beer:

I just thought of something though - my husband changed his name after we got married too and I filled out the form for him online. I simply checked the box to say he was changing it because of marriage.

They never actually asked for any proof and sent an email back saying thed updated his records.... so I dont see why your brother couldnt just do the same. Although technically it would be lying..

realised

srcandas wrote: »

Thanks realised. I see now it is £15 and one site will do it for a fiver!

Did your partner ever have hassle with HMRC having his old name?

And did he change his name with his financial bits? (banks, cards, etc.)

:beer:

No he was lucky because it was only his passport and driving license that had different spellings on them. The HMRC has the correct spelling so he only had to change the driving license and passport which was pretty easy.

With regards to banks etc, he just called them up/went into the branch, showed them the deed poll letter and new passport and they changed it all pretty quickly.

I think with the fact that there was only 1 letter spelt incorrectly on his documents, companies are willing to change the names over without too much hassle as he just told them they'd made the error. Poor companies :rotfl: