Contact
Ask a paralegal
Tell us the situation and we will tell you honestly whether you need a Deed Poll, which one, and what it will cost. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
- A person reads every message
- Usually answered the same working day
Write to us
Asking about an order? Include the name on it and we will find it.
Message sent
We will reply to the address you gave us, and a copy is on its way to you now.
- A paralegal reads it. Not a bot and not a script, which is why the answer is worth waiting for.
- You should hear back on the next working day. Messages are answered in the order they arrive.
- You get an honest answer, even when the answer is that you do not need us.
Nothing else to do. If it is urgent, [email protected] reaches the same inbox.
When you write
- nowYou send your questionFrom this page, or from your own email
- todayA paralegal reads itA person, not an automated reply
- usually that dayYou get a straight answerBy email, so you can keep it
Done by usDone by you
Your answer may already be here
These are the questions we are asked most. If yours is not one of them, or the answer does not fit your situation, write to us above.
Which service do I need?
Changing your own name at 16 or over is an Adult Deed Poll. A child under 16 needs a Child Deed Poll, applied for by a parent, and everyone with parental responsibility has to agree. If you have lost the one you had, it is a Replacement Deed Poll. All three are £18.50.
Find your route in a few secondsDo I need a Deed Poll at all?
Not always. If you took a spouse’s surname on marriage or civil partnership, your certificate is usually the evidence. Going back to a former name after a divorce, most organisations accept the marriage certificate, sometimes with the final order. A Deed Poll is for everything else, including a name you have chosen yourself.
Which route fits your situationHow many certified copies will I need?
One for each organisation that keeps what you send rather than handing it back, so you can deal with several at once. Our checklist marks which ones normally keep a copy. Certified copies are £6 for two, up to £25 for twenty.
Open the who-to-tell checklistWho can witness it?
Two independent adults, one for each witness space on your Deed Poll. Each must be over 18, not related to you and not living at your address. A friend, a colleague or a neighbour is fine. A partner or a family member is not.
How to sign and witness itA question about my order
Write to us with the name on the order and we will find it. Every order is confirmed by email, so searching your inbox for deedpolls.org will usually turn it up. Orders are drafted, checked and posted the same working day.
Write to us about itOther ways to reach us
Our office
Online Deed Polls
3rd Floor, 86–90 Paul Street
London EC2A 4NE
You never need to post anything to us. Nothing is sent in to draft a Deed Poll.
What we cannot help with
We are not solicitors. We cannot advise on court matters, such as a dispute over a child’s name, and we do not enrol or notarise documents. We will tell you so, and point you the right way.
About getting in touch
Is there a charge for asking?
No. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing. We would rather you asked first than ordered the wrong thing.
How quickly will you reply?
Usually the same working day. Messages sent at a weekend or on a bank holiday are answered on the next working day.
I have not had a reply. What should I do?
Check your spam folder first, because our replies come from deedpolls.org. If it is not there after a working day, write again or email [email protected].
Can you give legal advice?
No. We can tell you which Deed Poll fits your situation and how it works, but we are not solicitors, and we cannot advise on your legal position or on court matters such as a dispute over a child’s name.
Do I need to send you any documents?
No. Nothing is posted to us, and no proof of identity is needed to draft a Deed Poll. You apply online with your current name, your new name, your title and your address.
Ready to order instead?
Apply online in about five minutes. Your Deed Poll is drafted, checked and posted the same working day, and guaranteed to be accepted.
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