About This Guide
A Deed Poll is official proof that you’ve changed your name and are using it consistently in daily life.
For most people, this is more than enough to update records across government departments, banks, and employers.
However, if you’re aged 18 or over and were born in England or Wales, you have the optional choice to enrol your Deed Poll. This puts your name change on the public record via the Royal Courts of Justice.
This guide from Change My Name explains what an Enrolled Deed Poll is, how the process works, and why you might (or might not) want to consider it.
What Is an Enrolled Deed Poll?
A Deed Poll confirms that you’ve officially adopted a new name and stopped using your former one. It’s accepted as valid evidence of your name change by official bodies like HM Passport Office, the DVLA, and banks.
There are two types of Deed Polls:
1. Unenrolled Deed Poll
This is the most common form; a straightforward, valid declaration of your name change. It’s valid across the UK and doesn’t need to be registered with any court.
You can easily apply for one online through Change My Name.
2. Enrolled Deed Poll
An Enrolled Deed Poll is officially registered at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Once processed, your name change details, including your old name, new name, and home address are published in The London Gazette and stored permanently in the public record, including the National Archives at Kew after five years.
Who Can Apply for an Enrolled Deed Poll?
You are eligible to enrol your Deed Poll if:
- You’re 18 or older
- You were born in England or Wales
If you were born in Scotland or Northern Ireland, different procedures apply.
How to Enrol a Deed Poll
Enrolling a Deed Poll involves more paperwork than the standard online process. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Step-by-Step:
- Use specific wording
You can’t use a standard Deed Poll (like the ones issued by Change My Name) for enrolment — it must follow a special format suitable for submission to the Royal Courts. - Get support from a solicitor
A solicitor will help you draft and witness the Deed Poll, prepare a statutory declaration, and ensure all documents are compliant. - Statutory declaration
You must have someone who has known you for at least 10 years sign a statutory declaration in front of a solicitor or notary. If this isn’t possible, you’ll need to submit an Affidavit explaining your reasons for the name change. - Submit to the courts
Once prepared, send the documents to:
Queen’s Bench Division
Enforcement Section
Room E15
The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
The enrolment fee is £42.44, payable by cheque to HMCTS.
Enrolling a Deed Poll for a Child
To enrol a child’s name change:
- You’ll need written consent from all with parental responsibility
- A court order is required
- You must submit an Affidavit of Best Interest and a statutory declaration for a minor
- Submit all documents and complete The Gazette notification form
If you prefer, you can request that only the first name of your child be published in The Gazette. Contact the Queen’s Bench Division directly to make this request.
Do You Have to Enrol a Deed Poll?
No. Enrolling a Deed Poll is entirely optional. It’s not required by law and does not make your name change more “official.”
This has been confirmed by UK court rulings:
“A Deed Poll is just as effective whether it is Enrolled or not… the purpose of enrolment is only evidential and formal.”
— Lord Justice Ormrod, 1979
For most people, an unenrolled Deed Poll is all that’s needed to update names with government departments, banks, insurers, utility providers, and more.
Pros and Cons of Enrolling a Deed Poll
Benefits of Enrolling:
- A permanent government record of your name change
- Deed Poll stored securely in the National Archives
- Helpful for those wanting a formal, traceable record
Drawbacks of Enrolling:
- No advantage over an unenrolled Deed Poll
- Process is complex, time-consuming, and expensive
- Requires solicitor support, declarations, and added forms
- Only one original Deed Poll is issued; certified copies incur fees
- Your personal details are made public in The London Gazette
- You’ll need spouse consent if married or in a civil partnership
- Additional costs to retrieve a certified copy from the National Archives (around £25 per copy)
FAQs
About Enrolled Deed Polls
Historically, name changes were formalised through Royal Licences or even Acts of Parliament, a tradition that dates back over 150 years.
Today, the vast majority of people choose the simpler route of an unenrolled Deed Poll, which is faster, cheaper, and officially equivalent in every way.
That said, some people prefer the extra formality or want their name change stored by the courts for future verification.
In most cases, no. Especially for standard (unenrolled) Deed Polls issued by Change My Name.
However, a solicitor may be required to:
- Certify your Deed Poll if you’ve already signed it
- Provide verification if you’re living abroad or getting married overseas
- Support enrolment by preparing required official declarations
For most people, an unenrolled Deed Poll is more than enough to officially change their name and update it across all major organisations.
Yes, although unenrolled Deed Polls are officially valid and rejection rarely happens, they can sometimes be rejected by certain organisations or authorities. This usually occurs when the organisation requires a specific document. However, if you change your identity consistently across your official documents before submitting your Deed Poll to these organisations, it is more likely to be accepted.
Who might reject an unenrolled Deed Poll?
Commonly, these organisations might reject or question an unenrolled Deed Poll.
- Banks and financial institutions — some may insist on a Deed Poll Enrolled in the Royal Courts of Justice or a certified copy to accept the change.
- Employers or professional bodies — when verifying identity or qualifications, they may require official or Enrolled documentation.
