How much does it cost to change my name by deed poll?

Nothing, if you do it the standard way. In England and Wales an 'unenrolled' deed poll — a short document with the correct legal wording, signed by you and witnessed by two independent adults — is free to make yourself and is accepted by HM Passport Office, DVLA, HMRC, banks and employers. The optional 'enrolled' version registered at the Royal Courts of Justice costs £53.05 and is NOT more legally valid — the Court of Appeal confirmed that. Paid deed-poll websites charging £15–£60+ are selling you paper and postage.

What wording does a free deed poll need?

GOV.UK publishes the exact wording free at gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll. In short, the document states that you absolutely renounce your former name, adopt the new name for all purposes, and require everyone to address you by it — signed with BOTH your old and new names, dated, and witnessed by two independent adults (not relatives) who also sign with their names and addresses. Print it neatly, keep several copies.

Do I need a deed poll after marriage or divorce?

Usually not. Taking a spouse's surname after marriage or civil partnership? Your marriage or civil partnership certificate is the evidence — banks, the DVLA and the passport office accept it directly. Reverting to your previous name after divorce? The decree absolute (or final order) plus your birth certificate normally does it. A deed poll is only needed for changes those certificates don't cover — like a completely new surname, a changed first name, or double-barrelling outside marriage.

How do I change my name in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Scotland runs a different (and arguably better) system: if you were born or adopted in Scotland you can RECORD the change with National Records of Scotland for £55, which updates your birth record itself — future birth-certificate copies show the new name. Deed polls are also recognised in Scotland for those born elsewhere. Northern Ireland uses a similar registration route via GRONI, and deeds of change of name are also used.

What do I update after changing my name?

Work through them with copies of your deed poll: passport (a new one — standard fee), driving licence (free, but the photocard must be renewed), HMRC via your personal tax account, your bank, employer and pension provider, the GP and NHS record, the electoral roll, and your council. There's no Tell-Us-Once-style single service for name changes — it's one short task at a time.

Change your name by deed poll — free, legally valid, no website fee needed (2026)

The free deed poll — 30 minutes, two signatures

Copy the official wording — GOV.UK publishes the exact text free at gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll. It declares that you renounce your former name, adopt the new one for all purposes, and require everyone to use it.
Sign it with both names — your old signature and your new one — and date it.
Two independent adult witnesses (not relatives; a neighbour, colleague or friend is fine) watch you sign and add their own names, addresses and signatures.
Print several clean copies and have each executed, or get copies certified later — banks and government bodies will want to see one.

Accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks and employers when properly executed.
Adults 18+ can do this freely; 16–17-year-olds can too; for under-16s everyone with parental responsibility must consent, and the process differs — take advice first.
You can change first names, surnames, add or remove middle names — your name is yours.

The £40 trap Paid “deed poll office” websites — many with official-sounding names — charge £15–£60+ for printing the same free wording on nice paper. They are private companies, not government, and their documents carry no extra legal force. If you’ve already paid and the document was fine, you lost money but not validity; if a site pressures you to “register” or “renew” a name change for a fee, check it.

Enrolled deed polls — the £53.05 option almost nobody needs You can enrol a deed poll at the Royal Courts of Justice (18+, fee £53.05). It creates a public record — published in The Gazette — which some people want for formality and others actively avoid for privacy. The Court of Appeal has confirmed an enrolled deed is no more legally valid than an unenrolled one. Occasionally an institution dealing with old or complex records requests one; otherwise, the free version does everything.

Married? Divorced? You may not need a deed poll at all

Situation	What you actually need
Taking a spouse’s surname after marriage / civil partnership	Your marriage or civil partnership certificate — banks, DVLA and the passport office accept it directly. Free (beyond certificate copies).
Going back to your previous name after divorce / dissolution	The decree absolute / final order plus your birth certificate usually suffices. Some banks like a short signed statement too.
A new surname, changed first name, double-barrelling outside marriage	That’s deed poll territory — the free route above.

Scotland & Northern Ireland

Scotland (born or adopted there): record the change with National Records of Scotland for £55 — it annotates your birth record itself, so future birth-certificate copies show the new name. Arguably the tidiest system in the UK. Deed polls from elsewhere are also recognised.
Northern Ireland: a similar registration route via GRONI, alongside deeds of change of name.

After the deed — the update list

Passport — a new one at the standard fee (you can’t amend the old one).
Driving licence — free, by post with the supporting documents.
HMRC — via your personal tax account; your bank, employer and pensions — a certified copy each.
GP and NHS record, electoral roll, council — short calls or forms.

Do this now

Don’t pay anyone: copy the free wording from gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll, print three copies, and sign them tonight with two witnesses. That’s the legal part done.

Then work the update list above, one document at a time — the licence is free, so start there.

One honest caveat A name change doesn’t erase the past: credit history, qualifications and records link via your documents, and using a new name to deceive or avoid debts is fraud. For everyone else — a fresh start costs nothing.

Source verification Primary source: GOV.UK change your name by deed poll + National Records of Scotland · gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll. Last verified 11 June 2026. Confidence: High — official wording + fee pages. Key facts: unenrolled deed poll free + equally valid (Court of Appeal) · enrolment £53.05, optional, public record · marriage cert / decree absolute shortcuts · Scotland NRS £55 (updates birth record) · under-16s need all-PR consent. Scope: England & Wales; Scotland + NI routes stated.

Deed polls — common questions

How much does a deed poll cost?

Nothing — a DIY unenrolled deed poll with the free GOV.UK wording and two witnesses is legally complete. Court enrolment (£53.05) is optional and adds no validity; paid websites charge £15–£60+ for the same wording.

Will the passport office accept a free deed poll?

Yes — HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC and banks accept a properly executed unenrolled deed poll (signed in both names, dated, two independent witnesses with addresses).

I just got married/divorced — deed poll needed?

Usually not: the marriage certificate changes a surname directly, and the decree absolute plus birth certificate reverts one. Deed polls are for changes those documents don't cover.

What about Scotland?

If born or adopted in Scotland, record the change with National Records of Scotland (£55) — it updates your birth record itself, so future certificates show the new name.

Can I change a child's name?

Under-16s need the consent of everyone with parental responsibility, and the process (and any disputes) differ — get advice from Citizens Advice or a family solicitor before starting.

Sources: Free unenrolled deed poll route, wording and witnessing · GOV.UK change your name by deed poll. Enrolment at the Royal Courts of Justice (£53.05, optional, Gazette publication; equal validity confirmed by the Court of Appeal in D v B) · GOV.UK enrolment guidance + case law. Scotland recorded name change £55 · National Records of Scotland. NI · GRONI. Marriage/divorce document shortcuts · GOV.UK + bank/HMPO acceptance practice. SortedUK is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: 11 June 2026.

Changing your name is free. The websites charging £40 hope you don’t know.

The free deed poll — 30 minutes, two signatures

Married? Divorced? You may not need a deed poll at all

Scotland & Northern Ireland

After the deed — the update list

Deed polls — common questions

Your name. £0. Tonight.

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