Change a minor's name by deed poll?

[Over_the_Pond]

DH and I are harmonizing documents, and we want to change our daughter's name. It looks like deed poll will be the most reliable way. I would love some insight from anyone who has been through this process recent-ish. There's more paperwork than I expected on the government website. And how does the declaration bit work... you have to have solicitor?

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

I did it for my child . It was super easy , I did it online ,paid something like ?10-?15 and got my friend who is a solicitor to sign it .

I went via http://www.deedpoll.org.uk

[sanity girl]

This is really helpful, thanks. Can I ask did you change your child's first name or surname? My children have my ex's surname but I would like to add mine as they identify much more with my side of the family than his. My daughter was born in Italy so wondering if this will complicate things. Also wondering about the implications for passports etc as I only just renewed their passports with their dad's surname.

DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote:

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> I did it for my child . It was super easy , I did

> it online ,paid something like ?10-?15 and got my

> friend who is a solicitor to sign it .

> I went via http://www.deedpoll.org.uk

[IlonaM]

Is your daughter a dual British and Italian national? If so, I'd get advice from an Italian lawyer/Italian embassy regarding name change as there are issues in Italian law with changing names.

[RobMiller]

You might find this info on GOV.UK useful: https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview.

I don't think you *need to* use a paid service to make a change by deed poll (you definitely don't for adults). You can get an updated passport by sending in a counter signed statement with the wording on the second page (https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll). I called the passport office and the person I spoke to wasn't sure, so I sent them the exploratory info from GOV.UK along with the form and that seemed to work.

Hope that helps 😀

[Over_the_Pond]

RobMiller Wrote:

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> You might find this info on GOV.UK useful:

> https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview.

>

>

> I don't think you *need to* use a paid service to

> make a change by deed poll (you definitely don't

> for adults).

But I would still need to pay for a solicitor to sign the declaration? I don't think hubbie and I know anyone who is a solicitor, at least not personally. All our close friends do artsy stuff. In which case, is it easier to use a paid service?

[RobMiller]

I just asked my neighbour to witness it! I don't think it needs signing by anyone in a special role / specific profession from my reading of the GOV.UK page.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

I changed his first and middle name as he already has my surname . You can change any name you want , you just have to send the original deed poll plus orginal birth certificate to the passport office , GP Surgery ,Schools etc when you inform them of the name changes .

You don't need to use a paid service but for me it was easier plus it was cheap enough .

I was lucky to have a solicitor friend as my witness .

Do I need to get a solicitor to witness me sign my Deed Poll?

A: If you are British and live in the United Kingdom, your witness can be anyone so long as they are at least 18 years of age; know you and are independent of you i.e. not a relative or partner or someone living at the same address. A suitable witness would be, for example, a friend, neighbour or work colleague.

If you are British and living overseas, you will need to have the signing of your Deed Poll witnessed by a lawyer or a notary public.

If you are not British and live in the United Kingdom, you should check with your Embassy (the passport section in consular services) to ask if your Deed Poll needs to be witnessed by either a UK solicitor or a notary public. Please note, if your Deed Poll needs to be legalised with an Apostille, it will need to be witnessed by a UK solicitor or a notary public. See the answer to Q31 below for further information about legalising your Deed Poll.

http://www.deedpoll.org.uk/OtherFAQs.html

[wilko]

Just to sound a word of caution, if you want to change the surname by which a child is known, you need permission from anyone with parental responsibility for the child. Otherwise you need permission from the court.

This is dealt with in sections 8 and 13 of the Children Act 1989.

As long as you have permission, it is straightforward.

If you do the change through a solicitor, get certified copies of the deed as these will come in handy for future change of documents.

[Saffron]

Does anyone have experience of enrolling a minor's deep poll with the Royal Courts of Justice? xx

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jun/29/deed-poll-websites-avoid

[srisky]

Yes - we used the gov.uk forms. It was a pain but it's definitely legit!

[Saffron]

Ah, I was afraid that'd be the case (from a logistical point of view), but I do like the idea of enrolling in general. It seems much more water tight than the DIY ones. xx

[srisky]

Feel free to PM any questions - happy to post here if anyone else is interested