Change of Name Deed vs Deed Poll?

Disco4

I've contacted a local solicitor regarding changing my name and they've quoted £100 plus VAT for a Change of Name Deed and everything will be done and dusted.

But after researching elsewhere, there appears to be a 'Deed Poll' for the price of £35. During this research, there appears to be 'what is a legal document' debate and people seem to imply that the solicitor option is best.

Could someone please advice on the pros and cons of using a costly solicitor to write up a Change of Name Deed vs a cheap and cheerful Deed Poll? I plan on using this to change my passport, driving license... the works.

A general question to end with, is there anything else to think about before indeed changing my name? I'm 23 at the minute and hopefully buying a house in the next few years. Will it affect my ability to obtain a mortgage with my partner?

NameChangeExpert

Deed of Change of Name, Change of Name Deed and Deed Poll are different names for the same document.

A Deed is a type of contract, the word Poll is present because years ago the edges of the document would have been cut straight 'polled', this was to distinguish between a Deed concerning one person, and an indenture which concerned more than one person (an indenture would have wavy edges).

This was largely due to the fact that most people back then would have been literate, so visual representation was very important.

Because a Deed is a type of contract they are used in a wide variety of situations, when you change your name then it's a Deed of Change of Name, but it could also be a Deed of any other legal matter.

There are rules of law that dictate whether a legal instrument is a Deed or a standard contract. These rules of law also determine whether you have a valid deed poll/change of name deed, or a piece of scrap paper.

There is absolutely no requirement in law that a change of name deed needs to be typed up by a solicitor, or that a solicitor witnesses the document.

It should also be noted that all you are paying for a is what amounts to a very basic document in a legal sense. A solicitor or anyone else in the UK isn't actually changing your name or doing anything else for you other than opening word, typing your doc (most will have a template on file) and printing it off for you. On that basis £120 is possibly quite steep, some Solicitors will do it for around £40-50 these days as they realise the consumer has far more choice.

If you go to specialist online company then you will save money, there are a number of really good ones charging from £13.39 - £33 - don't be swayed by any talk of 'official' because there is nothing official about it. It's purely a legal concern.

You can also print off your own deed, again there is no law to say that a 'lay person' cannot print off their own legal document (think Law Pack in WH Smiths). in fact, you can actually get a law pack for name change.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

PS - changing your name won't effect your credit rating.

maman

I don't know why you want to change your name but AFAIK you can call yourself what you like as you don't intend to defraud anyone.

flutterby_lil

My sons was done via the Deedpoll dot org dot uk website. We have had no problems with it.

indsty

I was apprehensive before deciding to change my surname, but used the on-line deedpoll service and it was so simple ! I then had no problems sending off copies to change passports, driving licence etc. No problems at all and I think it cost me about £30 but that was a few years ago now.

Bella73

Don't worry about mortgages and things. You just keep your certificate safe and show it to them if they ask just like showing your birth certificate etc

Seanymph

I did it with an online certificate, no problems at all.

You have to keep it - because you need to be able to 'trail' back to your birth certificate at times.

I got married recently and needed birth certificate, first marriage, divorce, deed poll certificate ....... but could choose which ones to omit on the new marriage certificate so they aren't all listed there thank goodness!

It's really easy - and the cheaper the better.