Changing children's surnames by deed poll - for free?

Mrs_Chelle

Hello all,

I've recently separated from my children's father, and managed to get him to agree to me changing their surnames so that they have the same name as me

However, I'm baffled by the options I have to do this - please can you shed some light?

I initially downloaded all the forms from the government website - it will cost £36 each plus solicitor's fees and requires a witness, and I think it goes through court and gets printed in the London Gazette!? (why??)

However, I've stumbled across a Guardian article advising which deed poll websites to avoid - and this article advises that we have a basic right to legally change our names for free(it's from 2013 however - and I can't include the link here as it thinks I'm a spammer).

There are various sites that offer name changes, but I do want it to be above board and accepted by the passport office/banks etc.

Please can you advise - if I can change their names for free, without having to involve solicitors, how do I go about this?

Thank you

busiscoming2

I don't know if things have changed but my dd changed her name some years ago. I found a template online and used that, the only other thing I had to have as she was under 18 was a letter of consent from her father.

Once it had been done we sent it off with her passport to change her name there as I thought they would be the ones to refuse if anyone would! We encountered no problems so try it yourself first before shelling out any monies.