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Practical UK name-change guide

Changing your name with Land Registry

A UK guide to property name changes: HM Land Registry AP1, identity evidence, Scotland, Northern Ireland and when to involve a conveyancer.

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Clear document guidance
Practical next steps
Sources linked below
Clear answers, with the source behind them

Practical guidance for your next name-change step. References are linked throughout and collected at the end.

Updated: 17 October 2026
On this pageQuick answerConfirm which register holds the propertyEngland and Wales: the core applicationA practical checklist for your solicitor or conveyancerScotland and Northern IrelandA name change is not a change of ownerKeep the lender and other property records in the loopFAQs

The quick answer

For registered property in England and Wales, a personal name change is normally an update to the existing owner’s details using AP1, not a transfer of ownership. HM Land Registry charges no fee for the name update itself. Identity checks and evidence still matter, and Scotland and Northern Ireland use different procedures.

The practical details

Confirm which register holds the property

LocationAuthority and route
England and WalesHM Land Registry. Use its name-change guidance and current AP1 instructions.
ScotlandRegisters of Scotland. A name update is not legally required; a solicitor can deal with it during a sale or remortgage.
Northern IrelandLand & Property Services. Follow the Land Registry personal-application route; do not use an England and Wales form.

The property’s location determines this, not where you currently live. A person living in Scotland who owns a flat in England still needs the England and Wales process for that flat. HM Land Registry: update or correct the register; Registers of Scotland: change of name; nidirect: personal applications to land registers

Your next step

England and Wales: the core application

HM Land Registry asks for AP1 and original or certified linking evidence, such as a marriage certificate, deed poll, statement of truth or statutory declaration. For an unrepresented application it also asks for identity confirmation in the new name, using ID1 or the appropriate remote ID3 route, plus an official document in the former name. Follow the live requirements and verifier eligibility. HM Land Registry: update or correct the register

Download a fresh form and read the accompanying guidance. Do not fill the form from a screenshot of an old example. The AP1 publication page is the starting point for the current form and completion guidance.

Step by step

A practical checklist for your solicitor or conveyancer

Identify every affected title.

A home, garage or separate parcel can involve more than one title number.

Provide the complete chain from the registered name to your current name, including any intermediate marriage or deed poll changes.

Say whether this is only a personal name update or also a sale, ownership change, remortgage or discharge.

Ask which original or certified documents and identity checks are required for your application.

Ask for a quote separating the register fee, professional work and any identity-verification costs.

Request confirmation of the completed update and check the spelling and contact addresses.

If you are already moving house, involve the conveyancer early so they can coordinate the evidence with the transaction. Do not simply wait for a future move without advice: England and Wales guidance says changes to register information must be reported.

The practical details

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Registers of Scotland says a name change does not remove ownership or prevent sale, and a solicitor can notify it during a sale or remortgage. Its name-update service is free and needs evidence linking the person, names and property. Registers of Scotland: change of name

Northern Ireland’s published personal-application guidance requires a registration application and a solicitor’s certificate, and lists a £90 fee for reporting a name or address change. Check the current form with LPS because the public page’s form links are inconsistent. This route does not update a Registry of Deeds record. nidirect: personal applications to land registers

A clear link between names

A prepared deed poll helps you document your name change for property records and the other organisations you need to update.

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The practical details

A name change is not a change of owner

If Alex Morgan becomes Alex Reed, the question is how to identify the same owner. If Alex is adding a spouse as an owner or removing an ex-partner, that is a different legal transaction. Tell the conveyancer which outcome you want; it can affect the lender’s involvement and the documents required.

Do not amend historic deeds yourself. Retain them with the documents that explain your name history. If privacy is a concern, ask the conveyancer about sensitive evidence and access to previously filed documents before submitting anything.

The practical details

Keep the lender and other property records in the loop

Check the mortgage account, buildings insurance, management company and correspondence address separately. A title update does not demonstrate that those organisations have changed their own records.

Before a sale or remortgage, assemble the evidence early. The avoidable delay is often discovering a missing link between names when someone is already waiting for completion.

Your questions answered

Frequently asked questions

A simple personal name change is an update identifying the same owner. Do not use an ownership-transfer process without checking what transaction is actually needed.

The simple HM Land Registry update in England and Wales is free; professional or verification services may cost extra. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.

Yes, involve the conveyancer early in an active transaction. Do not assume you should delay a required update indefinitely until a future move.

Do not assume so. Ask the lender and conveyancer which records they are actually changing.

Check the detail

Sources for this guide

Guidance and reference pages

Use the relevant organisation’s instructions when submitting your documents.

Continue your name change

Related guides

Changing your name on a mortgage

Read the practical steps and document guidance.

Your complete name-change checklist

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How much does changing your name cost in the UK?

Read the practical steps and document guidance.

Prepared for your next step

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