Want to change your name by deed poll in the UK? Here’s how
Here’s how to change your name by deed poll in the UK. (Getty)
Here's how to change your name by deed poll in the UK. (Getty)
Changing your name by deed poll is kind of the transitioning equivalent of taking out the rubbish – it’s easy enough to keep putting it off, but the longer you wait, the longer the problems start to pile up.
Rather than letting the impact of delaying a name change stink up your transition journey, it’s best to nip it in the bud as soon as possible and throw away that long-forgotten deadname.
While legally changing your name is straightforward in the UK, in practice it can be long, arduous, and filled with bureaucratic back-and-forth that can often leave you confused, annoyed, or a combination of the two.
To save yourself a headache or three, here is a guide on how to legally change your name by deed poll in the UK.
While this is of course not a process restricted to trans people, this guide will focus on tackling it from a trans perspective.
The basics of how to change your name in the UK
So you’ve picked out a lovely, brand spanking-new name and you want to start using it – great! Legally changing your name in the UK is, for all intent and purposes, a simple process.
Before we get into it, it’s worth emphasising that being transgender does not mean you have to change your name. Plenty of trans people, particularly non-binary people, keep their name the same.
Now we’ve got that out of the way, the first thing you’re going to want to do ensure that your new name is appropriate. The law requires that your name be pronouncable, not include symbols, numbers, or punctuation, and not be “offensive or against the public interest.”
If your new name fits this criteria, and you’re 16 years old or above, you can start putting together a deed poll.
A deed poll is essentially a legal document recognising that you, of sound mind, have decided to change your name. Once completed, you can hand it to relevant organisations, such as your bank or GP, who will then update your records to reflect your new name.
If you are a registered sex offender, you must inform the police that you have changed your name within three days of creating your deed poll. You cannot change your name if you’re a permanent resident overseas.
Unenrolled vs enrolled deed polls
In the UK, there are two kinds of deed polls; enrolled and unenrolled. Enrolled deed polls are government-issued forms created by the High Court and cost £50.32, while unenrolled deed polls are ones you can make yourself.
It is strongly recommended you do NOT enroll your deed poll. Enrolling your name change certificate is not necessary and means your deadname becomes a matter of permanent public record.
Unenrolled deed polls, meanwhile, are completely free, simple to create, and are just as legally effective as enrolled deed polls. You can also ask a specialist agency or solicitor to make an unenrolled deed poll for you, though this is not required and can be costly.
What an unenrolled deed poll must contain
An unenrolled deed poll requires a name change deed – the written declaration that you recognise your new name and have taken necessary steps to acknowledge your new name. You can find an example here.
You must also obtain the signature, address, and name of two witnesses. They must be UK residents aged 18 or over. This is to confirm with the relevant authorities that you have declared your intention to abandon your deadname.
Witnesses cannot be relatives or anyone you live with, and must be present when you sign the document.
Once this is sorted, you’ve done your deed poll! It’s really that simple. Now, you need to start the process of sending your deed poll to relevant organisations, such as your bank, GP, the HMRC, and more.
While this isn’t vital, it’s recommended to print your deed poll document on a high quality piece of A4 paper to help legitimise it. Presentation really is everything.
What if my unenrolled deed poll gets refused?
Chances are, your unenrolled deed poll might get denied a few times, particularly by private organisations telling you that you need to enroll your deed poll for them to recognise it.
It doesn’t matter what anyone in any position says, private and public organisations are legally required to accept an unenrolled deed poll that meets the government’s requirements, regardless of company policy or the state of your document.
If you’re met with pushback, your first step should be to reiterate that, under Article 16 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals have the right to rectify inaccurate personal data “without undue delay.” If they refuse your deed poll, they are breaking GDPR.
Organisations that fail to adhere to GDPR clauses can face fines of up to £17.5 million or 4 per cent of their annual worldwide turnover, so reminding them of GDPR is a good way to get the ball rolling.
Should this not work, try contacting the organisation’s complaint department reiterating the GDPR laws they could be in breach of by failing to accept the deed poll.
This is typically enough, but if you face further pushback, inform the organisation that you intend to get in contact with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), who will likely fine them over GDPR breaches. If they again refuse, contact the ICO here.
