In the United Kingdom, a deed poll is a
legal document used for a variety of purposes, including changing one's name.
The process of signing and witnessing a deed poll in the UK is relatively
straightforward but requires adherence to specific guidelines to ensure its
legality and validity.
To begin the process, individuals seeking
to change their name must draft a deed poll document. This document typically
includes the individual's current name, the desired new name, and a statement
of intention to abandon the old name and exclusively use the new one. It's
important to ensure the document is correctly worded to avoid any issues later
on.
Once the deed poll document is drafted, it
must be signed in the presence of a witness. The witness must be impartial and
not related to or living with the individual changing their name. Acceptable
witnesses include a practicing lawyer, a registered medical practitioner, a
civil servant, or a member of the armed forces. The witness must sign the
document and provide their name, occupation, and address.
After the deed poll document is signed and
witnessed, it should be dated and kept in a safe place. While there's no
official register for deed polls in the UK, individuals may choose to enroll
their deed poll with the Royal Courts of Justice for added legal recognition
and protection.
Once the deed poll is completed and signed,
individuals can begin using their new name for all legal and official purposes.
This includes updating identification documents such as passports, driver's
licenses, and bank accounts.
The procedure for signing and witnessing a
deed poll in the UK involves drafting the document, signing it in the
presence of an impartial witness, and then updating official documents to
reflect the new name.