Who do I need to notify after I have signed my Deed Poll?

After your Deed Poll has been signed and witnessed, it is then valid and legal for you to use.

Congratulations, you have now changed your name!

Now comes the hard bit. You need to notify everyone who knows you, or has your details on file, that you have changed your name

Below is a list of the most common companies and government departments or agencies, which you will need to contact as soon as possible.

There may be more. You should make a list of all those you need to notify, and work your way through it. It is important to be thorough, as missing a company out can cause hassle and delay should you need to contact them at a later date.

• Your employer.
• The Inland Revenue for tax and NI records (obtain your reference and tax office address from your employer).
• School/college/university.
• Doctor.
• Dentist.
• Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (driving licence and vehicle registration document).
• Passport Office (to apply for a new passport).
• Bank.
• Building Society (mortgage and/or savings accounts).
• Utility companies (water, sewage, electricity, gas).
• Telephone Company
• Mobile Telephone Company
• Local authority (for council tax and electoral register).
• HM Land Registry (if you own land or property).
• TV Licensing office.
• Credit card and store card companies.
• Finance/loan companies.
• Premium Bond office.
• Investment companies.
• Companies you have shares in.
• Pension company, if you have a company pension, then you can get the address from your employer.
• Insurance companies (e.g. motor, medical, life, endowments, buildings, contents, extended warranties etc).
• Mail-order companies.
• Motoring organisations (The AA, RAC, Green Flag or other breakdown companies).
• Professional institutes and bodies.
• Clubs, societies and associations.
• Internet Service Provider.
• Police (if you have any criminal actions against you or are on the Sex Offenders Register).

What do I need to send to have my names changed?

Ideally you should go in person to your bank, building society, employer and any local offices with your Deed Poll, and have your name changed in their files. This is a lot quicker than writing to each place in turn.

If you cannot visit in person, then you will need to write to each company and enclose either your original Deed Poll or a specially prepared copy of your deed poll (Read our F.A.Q's for details on how to prepare a copy of your Deed Poll).

An example letter is shown below.

What should I write in the letter?

The letter you send to each company should be in the following format.