Deceased parents

• If the child’s mother or father is deceased - the living partner will have sole parental responsibility. If both parents are deceased, please contact us.

Absent Parents

• If the father has been absent for the last five years - you can consent to the child's change of name without obtaining his permission. However, as in all cases, if the father subsequently disputes this the Court may order the name change to be reversed. You would need to ask yourself whether the father would be likely to dispute it, and whether he has the time and significant funds to do so.

• You should also note that, the Passport Service may refuse to acknowledge the name change if one person, who retains parental responsibility, is unable to provide their consent. In our experience it is unusual for this to happen, however, you should bear in mind that it is possible. If the Passport Service does refuse to acknowledge the change of name without the appropriate consent - you will need to obtain a court which you can do by clicking here.

• Before initiating lengthy and costly court proceedings, you may wish to instruct a Trace Agent to locate the absent parent. We have access to over 60 million public and private records, thus we are able to assist you in finding the absent parent. The cost of this service depends upon the information you furnish us with, however, invariably the cost does not exceed £38. For more information please contact support@thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk

Refusing to give consent

• Suggest hyphenating the child’s name in order that the child will continue to have the same name but with the additional name added on at the end, for example, Tjay Mountford would become Tjay Mountford-Jones.

• If either parent still refuses to allow the child's name to be changed, your only option is to seek a court order. To obtain advice about court orders you can visit HM Court Service by clicking here. Please e-mail us for free advice about which forms to complete: support@thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk

• Before initiating lengthy court proceedings, we can write to the other parent on your behalf. In this letter we outline the law pertaining to the child's change of name, and the likelihood that lengthy and costly court proceeding will be initiated should the parent refuse to give their consent. You should note that, such letters are sent by registered mail, thus there is a charge for this service. For more information, please e-mail: catherine.sarmons@thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk

Please select the area in which the Child was born in order to ascertain who will need to give consent to changing the child's name:

For children born in England

Both the mother and father will have parental responsibility if they were married at the time of the child’s birth, or at any time thereafter.

Whether or not the mother or father were married, both parents will still have parental responsibility if the father is named on the birth certificate on or after the 1st December 2003.

If there is a court order declaring someone to have parental responsibility, then that person must also consent to the name being changed.

For children born in Wales

Both the mother and father will have parental responsibility if they were married at the time of the child’s birth, or at any time thereafter.

Whether or not the mother or father were married, both parents will still have parental responsibility if the father is named on the birth certificate on or after the 1st December 2003.

If there is a court order declaring someone to have parental responsibility, then that person must also consent to the name being changed.

For children born in Scotland

Both the mother and father will have parental responsibility if they were married at the time the child was conceived, or at any time thereafter.

Whether or not the mother or father were married, both parents will still have parental responsibility if the father is named on the birth certificate on or after the 4th May 2006.

If there is a court order declaring someone to have parental responsibility, then that person must also consent to the name change.

For children born in Northern Ireland

Both the mother and father will have parental responsibility if they were married at the time of the child’s birth, or at any time thereafter.

Whether or not the mother or father were married, both parents will still have parental  parental responsibility if the father is named on the birth certificate on or after the 15th April 2002.

If there is a court order declaring someone to have parental responsibility, then that person must also consent to the name change.

Application for a Deed of Change of Name

Children's Deed Poll £16.50 (£11.50)

NB: You are entitled to a £5.00 fee reduction if the child is under 15. Please use the children's fee reduction application below.

Click here for a detailed explanation of what you will receive with your order

 

 

Application:

Your Deed Poll will be delivered to your inbox within 4hrs of submitting your application. If you use Hotmail/Yahoo - check your junk e-mail folder regularly during the next few days. The printed Deed Poll will be dispatched via Royal Mail within 24hrs.

The application process is secure and the information you provide is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. All Credit/Debit cards are accepted. If you don't have a credit/debit card, you can arrange an alternative payment menthod by sending e-mail: finance.department@thelegaldeedpollservice.org.uk

 

APPLY HERE

If you are claiming the fee reduction, make sure that you choose the correct application form.

Child's Application (£11.50)           Child's Application (£16.50) 

(Click the appropriate link)