How do I change my name legally?

ripplyuk

I've heard of a deed poll but I've no idea how to go about this. It's only my first name I'm considering changing. Does it have to be done with a solicitor? Will it be expensive?

elsien

Depends how official you want it to be. You can just start calling yourself anything you like, but if you want it on official records then deed poll
Is probably the way to go. You can diy using the forms.

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview

ripplyuk

If I change it with a deep poll, does that mean I can never use my original name again?

I don't mind at all if my passport has my original name but I'm worried that it would cause confusion with other things.

Mr_Toad

My brother in law is named Simon but always hated it, I think they called simple Simon at school. He decided he was going to be Paul and has been for 50 years. However, on his passport, driving licence etc. he is Simon.

My girlfriend doesn't use her given name, Susan, she prefers Lesley but again on her passport etc. she's Susan.

Neither of them ever did anything official.

I have a first name but nobody except my Mum and Dad ever uses it. It's not that I don't like it it's simply because I went to a school where everyone was known by their surname. All my old friends use my surname and you get used to it to the point where I always introduce myself by my surname.

Just pick a name and start using it.

Tiddlywinks

I wish I had a £1 for every time someone asks this question.....

Person_one

You just start using the new name. You can change it on official stuff too, you just might have to put your previous name on the form too.

As long as you aren't doing it with the intention to defraud anybody or commit a crime, you are legally allowed to call yourself whatever you like. No deed poll is needed.

hazyjo

ripplyuk wrote: »

If I change it with a deep poll, does that mean I can never use my original name again?

You won't need to declare the old name on anything - you literally change it. However, as everyone else has said, you can call yourself what you like so if you change it and want to re-use your old name, you can. But your official docs will then have your new name on.


Jx

GlasweJen

If you're in Scotland you need to write to the registrar general who will amend your birth certificate and send you a new one with your new name and a note detailing your old name. This can only be done twice.

If you're anywhere else in the U.K. You can print off a deed poll declaration and have someone counter sign it

annandale

You can do a statutory declaration in Scotland as well.

Person_one

GlasweJen wrote: »

If you're anywhere else in the U.K. You can print off a deed poll declaration and have someone counter sign it

You can if you want, but you don't have to in order to change your name.

GlasweJen

annandale wrote: »

You can do a statutory declaration in Scotland as well.

When I told the registrar who was doing our wedding and that I'd changed my name she told me I would have to be married as my original name unless my birth certificate had been changed.

Person_one wrote: »

You can if you want, but you don't have to in order to change your name.

True but when people ask this they tend to want a bit of paper to back them up.