Planning On Changing Your Middle Name? Here’s What You Need to Know

You are free to change your name or your child’s name at any moment in the UK. There is no “official” location where you can go to register a change of name because it is a legal matter. Lawfully, you are free to begin using a new name immediately.

However, in order to change your passport, driver’s license, bank accounts, and other official records to reflect your new name, you will need a deed poll or another type of formal document. This article outlines the different factors related to changing your middle name.

What Is a Deed Poll?

A deed poll is a signed document that commits you to take certain actions as of the date of the signing. The most frequent usage of it is to indicate a name change intention. A deed poll for a name change includes a formal declaration that you:

• You are no longer using your previous name.
• You will at all times use your new name.
• Everyone must address you by your new name.

However, your new name will not be accepted as your legal name unless all your documents are altered. The mere ownership of your Deed Poll does not provide legal recognition of your name.

The Procedure:

The benefit of changing your middle name through a deed poll is that you will have official documentation of the change. These documents, coupled with your birth certificate, are suitable for most administrative procedures and offer a simple, low-cost solution to most problems that can occur while changing your name.

Executing The Deed Poll:

A deed poll is a fairly easy procedure to carry out. You have the option of hiring a solicitor or handling it yourself.

You must state that you have abandoned a previous name and accepted a new one for all intents and purposes. After that, you affix your signature to the deed before a witness. Additionally, the witness is required to take an oath in front of a solicitor or oath commissioner.

Enrolling The Deed Poll:

There is no mandate to enrol the deed poll. However, certain organisations only accept a deed poll if it has been “enrolled” with the Central Office of the High Court.

Your change of name will appear on a Deed Poll register, which is a publicly available record once your deed poll is enrolled in the Central Office. Enrolling the deed poll also ensures that a record of the name change is retained for identifying purposes in the future.

You must come to the Central Office to enrol your deed poll. You will need the following to register the deed with the High Court’s Central Office:

• Correctly conducting the deed poll
• Proof of your previous name
• Photographic evidence of identity

A completed application form must also be brought, along with specific supporting documentation.

Recognising New Name:

Authorities and services could require documentation of your changed name. Each body might have its specifications for confirming the change. For instance, your first name, which also includes the middle name, can only be printed with a maximum of 30 characters at the HM Passport Office.

A copy of the deed poll, an enrolled copy, and “evidence of usage” of your new name with documentation going back at least two years are some of the paperwork required by some. To find their exact criteria, you should contact the necessary organisations or bodies.

Final Thoughts:

There are provisions available if you wish to remove your middle name. Like adding or changing your middle name, some people may opt to drop their middle name for various reasons. However, the procedure for removing your middle name is the same as changing or adding it.

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