Your deed poll has arrived. Here's what to do next.
You're only a few signatures away from having your deed poll ready to use. We'll show you how to complete it, the smoothest order to update your records, and the free tools and guides that can help along the way.
Show me the next steps ↓Completing your documents
Four simple steps
Check your documents
Carefully check that your former name and new name are shown correctly. Complete any blank fields printed on the deed poll using clear handwriting and black ink.
Complete every original copy
Complete each original deed poll certificate and any additional original copies supplied in your order.
Don't sign one certificate and photocopy the signed version. Every original document should be completed separately.
Need more additional copies? Order them here
Sign in front of your witness
Sign the deed poll in front of an independent adult witness — someone aged 18 or over who isn't a family member. A friend, neighbour or colleague is ideal.
Your witness then completes their own details and signs every original copy in the places provided. If your document includes space for more than one witness, each witness should watch you sign and complete their own section.
Your deed poll is ready to use
Once all required fields and signatures have been completed, your deed poll is ready to use as evidence of your new name.
The smoothest order to change your name
You do not have to update every organisation in exactly this order. But starting with your main photo ID can make the organisations that come afterwards, particularly banks, much easier.
Driving licence
If you already hold a GB driving licence, we recommend changing this first. The standard name change is free, and your new photocard gives you useful government-issued photo ID in your new name.
No driving licence? Skip straight to your passport, or move on to organisations that can verify you another way.Passport
Update your passport early if you have one, particularly if you do not drive or you expect to travel. A passport in your new name is another widely recognised form of photographic identification.
Bank and building society
Many UK banks accept unenrolled deed polls. Some may ask for additional identification, so having your driving licence or passport already updated can make this step much smoother.
Work and important official records
Next, work through your employer and payroll, HMRC, pensions, local council and electoral register, NHS or GP records, and any other important services you use.
Everything else
Finish with utilities, insurance, mobile and broadband providers, memberships, subscriptions, loyalty schemes and the smaller accounts that are easy to forget.
Driving licence
Free for an existing GB licence holder. See the forms, evidence and postal process.
Read the full guidePassport
What HM Passport Office needs and how to update a British passport into your new name.
Read the full guideYour bank
What banks commonly ask for and why updating photo ID first can make the process easier.
Read the banking guideFree tool — included with your order
Keep track of your name change
Once you've started with your main ID, use the free checklist as your command centre for everything else. Tick organisations off as you update them, add your own and come back whenever you need to.
- Tick organisations off as you update them
- Your progress saves in your browser automatically
- Add your own organisations and companies
- Come back later and pick up where you left off
- See at a glance what's done and what's still to do
From your original order
Need more certified copies?
Some organisations may need to see an original deed poll, and you may not want to send the same copy to several places at once. You can order additional certified copies from your existing order, produced using the same details.
from £7.50 plus delivery
- Produced using the details from your original order
- Bundles of 3, 5 or 10 additional copies — from £1.50 per copy
- Update your delivery address before paying
- Tracked delivery in a hard-backed A4 envelope — Fast (£4.99) or Fastest (£7.49)
Free tool
Create a covering letter
Some organisations may ask you to send a short covering letter with your deed poll. Download the ready-made template and fill it in by hand, or add your details below and we'll create a personalised letter you can print or save as a PDF.
The quick way: download the template
A ready-made covering letter with gaps to fill in. Print it, complete it in black ink and post it with your deed poll.
Letter preview