A child’s legal name can easily be changed by Deed Poll providing everyone with parental responsibility for the child consents to the name change. Typically, this responsibility is shared between both parents, meaning each must sign the Deed Poll document for it to be valid. Once signed, the Deed Poll is recognized by government agencies, schools, and other organizations, ensuring the name change is fully accepted.

It is important to understand that Parental Responsibility (PR) is a legal term; it means that you are responsible for, and have the right to be consulted about, the child’s health, education, religion and welfare.  To change a child’s name, those with parental responsibility must consent to the name change.

In the United Kingdom, the mother always has PR, the father will also have PR if:

• England & Wales: Married to the mother at birth, or named on the birth certificate from 1st December 2003.
• Northern Ireland: Married to the mother at birth, or named on the birth certificate from 15th April 2002.
• Scotland: Married to the mother at any time after birth, or named on the birth certificate from 4th May 2006.

If parental responsibility is held by someone other than the parents (such as a legal guardian), their consent will also be required.

No Authority (such as the Passport Office, School, GP surgery, etc.) would allow a child to be known by another name without satisfying themselves that everyone with parental responsibility has consented to the name change. For more information regarding PR, please refer to the UK Government website.

PLEASE NOTE: If both parents have parental responsibility, but consent from one parent i.e. the mother or father cannot be obtained, unfortunately Baraka UK Deed Poll cannot issue a Deed Poll for this child. In this case, the parent who wish to change the name of his/her child can decide to apply for a Specific Issue Court Order. If you want to instruct a lawyer, you can find a Solicitor accredited by the Law Society

So, how old does a child need to be?

• One can change his or her name with a Deed Poll independently if they’re 18 or older.
• If a child is between 16 and 18, their parents or guardians can sign the Deed Poll for them. Otherwise, the 16-18 years old’s child can sign their own Deed Poll, but the guardians or parents can oppose the new name change under special circumstances, and the child will have full control only once they will turn 18.
• If a child is under 16, their parents or guardians can change their name with everyone’s consent.

How much does it cost?
The cost of a Deed Poll application with Baraka UK Deed Poll is £29, plus £4.99 for recorded next-day delivery via Royal Mail. Each additional certified copy you may need is £15. There are no hidden fees, and no VAT will be added to the total. We have issued thousands of Deed Polls and guarantee their acceptance at all government and private institutions across the UK, or your money back!

Are there restrictions on changing your name?
Yes. You can’t choose for your child a new name that is offensive, vulgar, fraudulent, or promotes criminal activities. The name can’t include numbers, symbols, or made-up punctuation, and it must only use Latin characters. Titles must be British-accepted (e.g., Mr, Miss, Master, Lady, etc.).

Is there an official Deed Poll service in the UK?
There’s no single official service, but we at the Baraka UK Deed Poll are a trusted provider. We’ve issued thousands of deed polls, and our process is quick, secure, and 100% guaranteed to be accepted.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to start the Deed Poll process for your child, and we’ll guide you through every step to make it as seamless as possible.

Aisha Barbara Farina, MCIL, Chartered Linguist, Paralegal
Project Manager