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After a bereavement

Changing a child’s name after a parent dies

Families change a child’s name after a death for all sorts of reasons: to match a parent who remarries, to join a new family surname, or to carry the late parent’s name alongside a new one. Here’s who still needs to agree, what the Passport Office asks for, and how to do it with one document.

Start a child’s deed pollRead the guide
Who still has to agree
What the Passport Office asks for
Keep a late parent’s name in it
Who has a say, by law

Checked against the Children Act 1989, HM Passport Office guidance and Coram Children’s Legal Centre. Sources are listed at the end.

Updated: 30 October 2026
On this pageQuick answerWho has to agreeThe Passport OfficeKeeping their nameTelling everyoneFAQs

The quick answer

A parent who has died no longer has parental responsibility, so their consent isn’t needed. If you’re now the only person with parental responsibility, you can sign your child’s deed poll on your own. Anyone else who has it, such as a guardian whose appointment has taken effect or a step-parent with a parental responsibility agreement, has to agree too.

For your child’s passport, HM Passport Office asks for a short written statement and details of the parent who died, as well as the deed poll. Our child’s deed poll is £14.95 with free tracked delivery.

Consent

Who still has to agree

Your situationWho signs the child’s deed poll
You’re the surviving parent and nobody else has parental responsibilityYou alone
A step-parent or relative has parental responsibility by agreement or court orderYou and them
The parent who died named a guardian, and you have parental responsibilityUsually you alone, because the guardianship normally starts only when no parent with parental responsibility is left
The parent who died had a court order saying the child lived with them, and named a guardianYou and the guardian, because the guardianship can start straight away
No parent with parental responsibility is leftThe guardian, or whoever a court has given parental responsibility

These rules come from section 5 of the Children Act 1989. If a child arrangements order is in force, nobody can give the child a new surname without the written consent of everyone with parental responsibility, or the court’s permission. Children Act 1989, section 5 Children Act 1989, section 13

Not sure who has parental responsibility? Our guide to who has parental responsibility covers fathers, second parents, step-parents and guardians.

Your child’s passport

What the Passport Office asks for

HM Passport Office’s guidance says that when someone with parental responsibility has died, you should send:

  • evidence of the change of name, such as the deed poll, and evidence your child uses the new name for all purposes
  • any court orders, or confirmation that there aren’t any
  • a written statement explaining the situation
  • your child’s birth certificate
  • the full name, date of birth and place of birth of the person who died, with their passport number if you have it, or their death certificate if not

The Passport Office uses the late parent’s passport number to find their record, which is why the death certificate is only needed without it. HM Passport Office: change of name applications

Signed by everyone who still has parental responsibility, our child’s deed poll is backed by our acceptance guarantee for the Passport Office, HMRC, the NHS and other UK public bodies.

Remembering

Keeping the late parent’s name

Some families want the late parent’s surname to stay part of the child’s name. A double-barrel or a middle name does that, alongside a new family surname. For example, if Leo’s late father was a Hart and his mum has remarried a Morgan:

Leo’s name nowWith a child’s deed poll
Leo James HartLeo James Hart-Morgan
Leo James HartLeo James Hart Morgan, without a hyphen
Leo James HartLeo Hart Morgan, with Hart as a middle name

Grandparents and other relatives don’t have to agree unless they have parental responsibility, though it can help to talk it through with family who are close to your child. Someone without parental responsibility would need the court’s permission even to apply for an order about it. Children Act 1989, section 10

One document for every record

Your child’s deed poll covers the passport, school, GP and everyone else. Order by 6pm, Monday to Friday, for same-day processing.

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Step by step

Telling everyone

Passport

Send the deed poll with the statement and details above, and proof your child uses the new name.

School and GP

Give them a copy of the deed poll. If you’re now the only person with parental responsibility, say so, as the school might otherwise look for the other parent’s consent.

Savings and accounts

Children’s bank accounts and savings need updating too. Our bank by bank guide shows what each bank asks for.

Your own name

If you’re changing your surname too, for example after remarrying, our guide to changing your name after being widowed covers yours.

Extra copies, each signed and witnessed like the original, mean the passport, school and bank can all have one at once. Our guide to how many copies you need helps you choose.

Your questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Yes. If you’re the only person with parental responsibility, you can sign your child’s deed poll on your own.

Not unless someone in it has parental responsibility. Grandparents don’t have it automatically.

The deed poll, evidence your child uses the new name, any court orders, a written statement, the birth certificate, and the late parent’s details with their passport number or death certificate.

If you have parental responsibility, the guardianship usually starts only when no parent is left, so you can sign alone. It can start straight away if a court order said the child lived with the parent who died.

Yes. A double-barrel or a middle name keeps it in their name, alongside a new surname.

There’s no time limit, so it’s your call. Older children’s views matter, and from 16 they can make their own deed poll.

Check the detail

Sources for this guide

Guidance and reference pages

The official rules this guide is based on, checked in October 2026.

Continue your name change

Related guides

Changing your name after being widowed

Keeping, reverting or choosing a new name.

Who has parental responsibility?

Who has to sign a child’s deed poll.

Changing the whole family’s surname

A deed poll each, signed in one go.

Ready when you are

A name that fits your family now.

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