Name Change/United Kingdom

From Transsexual Support

In the United Kingdom citizens and residents have the freedom to change their names with relative ease. In theory anyone who is at least 16 years of age and resident in the United Kingdom can call themselves whatever they wish. However, over the past hundred years or so, formal procedures have evolved which are recognized by all record holders, such as government departments, companies and organizations. These procedures, which require the production of “documentary evidence” of a change of name, enable a citizen to legally change their name on their passport, driving licence, tax and National Insurance records, bank and credit cards, etc. Documents such as birth, marriage and educational certificates cannot be changed because these documents are “matter of fact” which means that they were correct at the time they were issued.

Documentary evidence of a change of name can be in a number of forms, such as a marriage certificate, Statutory Declaration or deed of change of name (deed poll). Deed polls are by far the most commonly used method of providing evidence of a change of name other than changing a woman’s surname after marriage. A deed poll is a legal document which binds a single person to a particular course of action (in this case, changing one\'s name for all purposes).

While changing ones name via deed poll is common, it can also be rather expensive, especially when compared with a statutory declaration, which also holds more legal sway than a deed poll and a good friend of mine found out recently when changing her US passport, they\'d not accept a deed poll, but a statutory decleration, they\'d take that and run with it.

Generally if you\'ve got one ready drafted any Solicitor can witness you swear a stat dec, and most places will charge £5-£10 for the it, including photocopies. Compared to a deed poll, which generally cost £40-£50 to get sorted they are pretty good.

The basic form is as follows, with all puncuation intact.

I, [New-name-in-full] of [current-address]

DO SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY DECLARE as follows:-

1. I absolutely and entirely renounce relinquish and abandon the use of my former
christian names of [old-first-name(s)] and assume adopt and determine to take and
use the christian names of [new-first-name(s)] in substitution for my former christian
names of [old-first-name(s)].

2. I shall at all times hereafter in all records deeds documents and other writings 
and in all actions proceedings as well as in all dealings and transactions on all 
occasions whatsoever use and subscribe the said names of [new-name-in-full] as my names
 in substitution for my former names of [old-name-in-full] so relinquished as 
aforesaid to the intent that I may hereafter be called know or distinguished not by my
 former names of [old-name-in-full] but by my names of [new-name-in-full] only.

3. I authorize and require all persons at all times to designate describe and address 
me by the adopted names of [new-name-in-full].

4. AND I make this solemn Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true 
and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835.

SIGNED AND DECLARED at [leave space for solicitor]

in the County of [leave blank, or fill in]

This [day-of-the-week], the [date] of [month] [year]

Before me [leave space for solicitor]


Solicitor

Just remember to leave space for signatures and you\'re set.

I hope this helps someone, not everyone knows about statutory declerations and they are just as, if not more effective than deed polls, and if you draft one yourself, a fair bit cheaper.

There between paragraphs one and two you can insert another paragraph if you\'re changing your surname, it\'s all the same legalese as the christian name part, just change christian name to surname and write old and new in the write places and you\'re set.