Can you see all deed poll name changes in The Gazette?

Since 1914, all enrolled deed polls had to be advertised in The Gazette. But what is a deed poll? And are changes of name always gazetted?

How can you change your name in the UK?

In the UK, you do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name. In UK common law, you can assume a new name and use it consistently. However, to change your name ‘legally’ on certain official documents, such as your passport or driving licence, the most common way is by deed poll.

What is a deed poll?

A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. Through a deed poll, you can change any part of your name, add or remove names and hyphens, or change the spelling of your name.

A change of name deed poll contains three key declarations:

the applicant will abandon their previous name
the applicant will always use their new name
the applicant requires all people to address them by their new name only

How do you change your name by deed poll?

There are two ways to change a name by deed poll. You can either:

make an unenrolled deed poll
apply for an enrolled deed poll

Unenrolled deed poll

You can create an unenrolled deed poll yourself or through a solicitor or a specialist service if you’re 16 or over. You’ll need two witnesses to sign your deed poll and they themselves must be 18 or over.

You can use your signed deed poll straight away as proof of your new name. It's legally valid and accepted by most official organisations.

Enrolled deed poll

If you’re 18 or over, you can put your new name on public record by ‘enrolling’ it at the Royal Courts of Justice in England and Wales (or equivalent in Scotland/Northern Ireland). If you’re under 18, there is a different process for changing a child’s name (see section below).

You can apply online or by post, details of which can be found on GOV.UK opens new window.

Pursuant to The Enrolment of Deeds (Change of Name) Regulations 1994 opens new window, once enrolled the deed poll will be advertised in The Gazette.

Requirements

Requirements for changing your name in the UK include:

the name must not be chosen for fraudulent purposes
the name must not be offensive, include numbers/symbols (unless part of an accepted title, like Brien), or imply a title (such as, “Sir” or “Lord”) unless genuinely entitled
it’s a criminal offence if you’re a registered offender and you do not tell the police you’ve changed your name

How can you change a name of a minor in the UK?

To change the name of a child under 18, you can either:

make an unenrolled deed poll by using a specialist deed poll agency or a solicitor
apply for an enrolled deed poll from the Royal Courts of Justice

However, you’ll need either:

the agreement of everyone with legal parental responsibility opens new window
a court order

If everyone with parental responsibility agrees, you can apply online or by post, details of which can be found on GOV.UK opens new window.

If you choose an enrolled deed poll, this means your child’s new name will usually appear on public record in The Gazette.

Do you need a deed poll to change your name after marriage or civil partnership?

You don’t need a deed poll to change your surname after marriage or civil partnership; you'll just need a marriage or civil partnership certificate to apply for documents in your new name.

However, if you get a divorce or separate and want to return a previous surname, you can use your decree absolute (divorce certificate) or civil partnership dissolution certificate, often with your birth or previous marriage certificate. A deed poll isn't usually required, but some institutions may request it.

Where can you see name changes in The Gazette?

Once an enrolled deed poll has been processed, the Royal Courts of Justice will then submit a notice to The Gazette on your behalf. From 1914, enrolled deed polls had to be advertised in The Gazette, though some were gazetted before this.

It should be noted, however, that enrolling a deed poll is voluntary, and many individuals choose not to do so, preferring an unenrolled deed poll. The National Archives opens new window estimate that less than 1% of changes of name by deed poll are enrolled. Consequently, most deed poll records do not survive.

You can search for all gazetted name changes from 1998 onwards using the link below.

Changes of name in The Gazette

To search for name changes pre-1998, use the all notices search function.