Our Change of Name Deed for a Child (also known as a “Deed Poll”) Template gives you a formal way of changing your child’s name in the UK if the child is a British citizen (not born in Scotland) and provides you with evidence that you have permanently changed your child’s name.

About our Change of Name Deed Template

This Change of Name Deed for a Child is suitable for British children. For foreign children (including if you are adopting, or have adopted, a child from abroad and are changing their name or surname), there may be other formalities that you need to comply with in the child’s country of origin in order to register the change of name or make it effective, and, as such, you might be better served by taking legal advice from a lawyer in the child’s country of origin on how you would change a child’s name according to the laws of their original country in order for it to be effective. (We at Legalo are experts only in English law and so we cannot help you with any requirements imposed by foreign countries.)

For a British child (not born in Scotland), you can use this deed poll to change:

their whole name, or
just their surname.

Following this brief guide, you will find that the template only takes you a few minutes to complete. For an adult, please use our change of name deed for an adult.

Requirements for children aged under 16

For children aged under 16 there are requirements you must fulfil before you can change their names. If the child is under 16, then you need either:
1. a court order (if not everyone with “parental responsibility” agrees to the change); or
2. the written consent of everyone with parental responsibility for the child. You must try to obtain this before applying for a court order if you cannot reach agreement on the change.

For example, parental responsibility exists for both parents if both mother and father are named on the child’s birth certificate. In such an example, parental responsibility lasts until a court order ends it (or the child turns 18). Divorce or desertion does not automatically end parental responsibility. You can read more about this here: https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities/who-has-parental-responsibility

Changes of name of babies

If within 12 months of registering the birth of a child you change only the child’s forenames, then you can do so without using a deed poll – you must use the appropriate form from the Register Office and pay a fee of £40. Again, this change will need the consent of everyone with parental responsibility.

What is a Deed Poll?

A deed poll is the same thing as a change of name deed. A deed poll or change of name deed counts as evidence of your having changed your name. By filling out the template, you can accomplish the change of name quickly and with no fuss. We have made it easy for you to produce your change of name deed using our template, so you can sign it and keep it as evidence that you have changed your name.

Is registration of a Change of Name Deed for a Child needed?

After you have completed the change of name deed, registration (also called “enrolment”) of the deed poll is not a requirement and is just an optional extra (unless the child was born in Scotland). For any child not born in Scotland, registration does not add any extra benefit to the process, and is simply an alternative way of doing it. As a result, most people do not bother registering the change of name of a child.

However, if you do intend to register it, you are better off obtaining the official court forms and the government’s suggested version of the deed poll (instead of Legalo’s one), so you can register it with the Royal Courts of Justice. Registering the change of name deed will add to the cost of the process and the time is takes to get the registration completed, so you may instead wish to use our version and simply have the finished document on file at your home as proof that you have changed your child’s name if it were ever needed. Once finished, you can attach the deed poll to the child’s birth certificate if you wish.

Completing your Change of Name Deed for a Child template

The template comes with a guide that explains everything you have to do in clear concise language. When you purchase your change of name deed, you will be able to get started straight away. You can download it immediately. If you have any queries on its use, you can also use our free helpline service by email or telephone – see our Contact Us page for details.

An excerpt from our guide to this template is below:

Clauses in this Change of Name Deed for a Child

Initial paragraph – Insert just the year at this stage. Handwrite the rest of the date in the deed on the dotted lines once you have printed and signed it. Select whether the father or mother of the child is signing this deed. Insert your child’s full current name (i.e. the old name, prior to the change of name taking effect). Complete your child’s date of birth. If your child is not a British citizen, amend the words in square brackets in the last line. Fill in your child’s full current name again at the end of the paragraph.

Numbered clauses

Clause 1

This clause states that your child’s change of name is permanent (until another deed poll is done, of course, if wanted). On the first line, fill in your child’s full current name where it says “[NAME]”. In each case where it says “[surname OR name]” in this clause, choose whether you are changing just your child’s surname or more and delete the option that does not apply. Fill in your child’s current name in the first and third places where it says “[SURNAME OR NAME]” in this clause.

If you are only changing your child’s surname, then just fill in your child’s current surname. If you are changing more than just your child’s surname, then fill in your child’s full name. Include all middle names in each such case. In the second place where it says “[SURNAME OR NAME]” in this clause fill in your child’s chosen new surname or whole new name. In each case where it says “[his OR her]”, select the one that applies.

Clause 2

In clause 2, firstly, fill in your child’s full current name where it says “[NAME]” on the first line. Then follow the same guidance as for clause 1 above in relation to completing the rest of this clause, except that the first place where it says “[SURNAME OR NAME]” in this clause you need to complete your child’s new name or surname; and in the second and third places where it says “[SURNAME OR NAME]” you need to fill in your child’s current name or surname. In the two places where it says “[NAME]” towards the end of this clause, in the first case fill in your child’s full current name and in the second case their full new name.

Clause 3

In clause 3, where it says “[NAME]” in three places, in the first one put your child’s full current name and in the last two you need to complete your child’s full new name.