Change of name deed 10 September 2021 at 6:28PM in Marriage, relationships & families 7 replies 297 views

[Deleted User]

A solicitor I know has agreed to prepare a change of name deed for me and witness it. Is the date that I and he sign this the date that will be on the deed or the date he prepares it? Just my appointment with him isn’t until end of month and he’s out of office atm to reply to emails. 

74jax

If just date it when you are due to see him but use the name now anyway. You can probably get most changed in the meantime. 

[Deleted User]

Most places I’ve enquired with have said they want a copy of the deed first before they will update anything. Just wasn’t sure if it got dated beforehand or on the day it’s executed at the appointment. 

74jax

MarkN88 said:

Most places I’ve enquired with have said they want a copy of the deed first before they will update anything. Just wasn’t sure if it got dated beforehand or on the day it’s executed at the appointment. 

What if you change your name without a deed though? I've done this and not by a deed. Government documents will probably need it but you can certainly start. I never changed my passport till it ran out and still haven't done my driving licence.

If you didn't want to wait for a solicitor just do your own deed poll.

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll. 

[Deleted User]

Both my bank providers have asked for evidence, so have the council and the housing association, plus a few others, so I can’t just change it with them without the change of name deed. I’ve started the process now so I’m happy to wait a few weeks. 

74jax

MarkN88 said:

Both my bank providers have asked for evidence, so have the council and the housing association, plus a few others, so I can’t just change it with them without the change of name deed. I’ve started the process now so I’m happy to wait a few weeks. 

How strange. Have they said what evidence?  I changed my bank (Halifax and Lloyds) with a letter from me as evidence.  I worked in the Halifax for 4 years and across this over the counter too. I also changed council tax this way. 

If you are happy to wait that's OK, but you do not need to pay a solicitor to change these is all I'm saying.  You can start to call yourself anything you want as long as it's not to decieve someone.

[Deleted User]

Just my preference. 

TBagpuss

74jax said:

MarkN88 said:

Both my bank providers have asked for evidence, so have the council and the housing association, plus a few others, so I can’t just change it with them without the change of name deed. I’ve started the process now so I’m happy to wait a few weeks. 

How strange. Have they said what evidence?  I changed my bank (Halifax and Lloyds) with a letter from me as evidence.  I worked in the Halifax for 4 years and across this over the counter too. I also changed council tax this way. 

If you are happy to wait that's OK, but you do not need to pay a solicitor to change these is all I'm saying.  You can start to call yourself anything you want as long as it's not to decieve someone.

The problem is that while you can indeed call yourself whatever you want, each organisation gets to decide what evidence they will require or accept to change your records with them. With the tightening of rules round proceeds of crime / money laundering etc most banks and financial organisations tend to have fairly rigid rules. If you did yours a while ago then that may explain the difference.

It can also vary a lot based on where you are - if your local bank employee knows you they may be happy with the a letter, especially if the internal proceedure only requires them to tick a box saying they have seen suitable evidence, for example.

Changing to a married name or back to a previous name  are often much easier than a change which is for any other reason, and as people sometimes make assumptions, this may mean that a woman making a change to her surname is something they are more willing to accept with less formality  than a man doing the same thing! 

MarkN88 - normally the deed would be dated once you have signed it and that would be effective legal date, but you can use the new name day-to-day immediately. 

Your solicitor will probably give you a bunch of certified copies of the deed, so you don't have to had over the original every time, but if they don't as standard, ask  them for half a dozen certified copies. (and keep one with your will, for reference!)