Accepted by the UK Government
For a UK name change, a deed poll is the standard document — universally accepted, no solicitor needed. A statutory declaration serves a different purpose. Create your deed poll free.
A deed poll is a written legal statement in which one person (you) declares an intention that binds only themselves. For a name change, it says you have given up your old name and will be known only by the new name from the date of signing. It takes effect immediately.
A statutory declaration is a formal written statement of fact, sworn or affirmed before a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary public under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. It is used for a wide range of purposes — proving identity, confirming residence, evidencing ownership — not specifically for changing names.
For changing your name in the UK, a deed poll is the recognised document. HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks and building societies expect a deed poll. A statutory declaration by itself is not a name change and will not be accepted by these organisations as evidence of a new legal name.
You might use a statutory declaration to confirm a fact that supports your identity — for example, that you have been known by a particular name for many years, or that a signature on an old document is yours. Some enrolment applications require a supporting statutory declaration from someone who has known you for at least ten years. But it is a supplementary document, not a substitute for the deed poll.
A deed poll can be prepared for free using a generator. A statutory declaration must be sworn in front of a solicitor or commissioner for oaths, who typically charges £5 for each declaration under the Commissioners for Oaths (Fees) Order 1993 (or higher for solicitors setting their own fees). A deed poll is therefore both cheaper and the correct document for a name change.
A deed poll is a written legal statement by one person, binding only on themselves, declaring an intention such as a name change. For UK name changes it is the standard legal document, effective from the moment it is signed and witnessed.
A statutory declaration is a written statement of fact sworn or affirmed before a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary public under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. It is used to confirm facts under oath, not to change a name.
A deed poll is a legal act — you are actively changing your name. A statutory declaration is a statement of fact — you are confirming something that is already true. For a UK name change, you need a deed poll; a statutory declaration by itself does not change a name.
A deed poll. HM Passport Office, the DVLA, HMRC, banks and other UK organisations expect a deed poll as proof of a name change. A statutory declaration alone will not be accepted as evidence of a new legal name.
Not as proof of a name change. A statutory declaration might be accepted alongside other documents to confirm identity in unusual cases, but for the change itself HM Passport Office and banks want a deed poll.
No. A deed poll can be prepared for free. A statutory declaration must be sworn in front of a solicitor or commissioner for oaths, which typically costs £5 per declaration or more.
Only a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, notary public or authorised justice of the peace. This is a formal requirement of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835.
Any independent adult aged 18 or over who is not a family member and does not live at your address. No solicitor is required. This makes a deed poll much easier and cheaper than a statutory declaration.
Not on its own. A statutory declaration can support a name change in specific enrolment applications, but the change itself is done through a deed poll or (in rare cases) an enrolled deed poll registered with the courts.
For an unenrolled deed poll — no. For an enrolled deed poll — yes, a statutory declaration from someone who has known you for at least ten years is required as part of the enrolment paperwork.
Neither is 'stronger'. They serve different legal purposes. A deed poll is the appropriate legal instrument for a name change; a statutory declaration is the appropriate instrument for confirming a fact.
UK deed polls are recognised in many other jurisdictions but not all. Some countries prefer or require an enrolled deed poll for immigration or citizenship purposes. Check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling with your documents.
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Note: This site provides general information about UK unenrolled deed polls and is not a substitute for legal advice. We are independent and not affiliated with HM Government. If you need an enrolled deed poll, apply through the UK Government website.
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