Call us on 08455 435 700
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Call us on 08455 435 700
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If you are over 18 years old, you may change your name whenever you want. You do not have to follow a legal procedure to change your name, but you may need evidence of your change of name to provide to change official documents, for example your passport or driving licence.
Fisher Jones Greenwood can provide you with a change of name deed for this purpose. You will need to provide us with certain details and once we have drafted the document, you can attend at one of our offices in order to sign the Deed and this will be witnessed by one of our solicitors. We then will provide you with six certified copies for you to send to the relevant organisations.
If there is a child arrangements order (specifying with whom the child should live), care or special guardianship order in force dated after 1 September 2009, this will last until the child reaches 18 unless the court directs otherwise. Here, consent to the change of name from everyone with parental responsibility will be required until the child reaches 18.
Otherwise young people are legally entitled to execute a change of name deed from the age of 16 years without parental consent unless there is a court order in force which prohibits the change of name.
Legally, the decision to change their name is their own and there will, in general, not be good reason why the wishes of someone with parental responsibility should override the wishes of the 16 year old unless there are exceptional factors that need consideration.
For a child under the age of 16, any parent with parental responsibility can sign a change of name deed, but you will need the other parent’s consent, whether or not there is a child arrangements order in force.
If the other person will not give their consent, then you can make an application to the court for a specific issue order or a prohibited steps order, so the court will decide. If the child is over 16 years old, they must also consent to the change of name. The court, in these cases, will have regard to the welfare checklist.
The court is very clear, however, that changing a child’s name is a major step and should not be undertaken lightly, the courts also take into account the importance of the child’s identity and the recognition of the biological link with the child’s father.
Our firm will, therefore, not carry out a change of name deed for a child, without the consent of both the child’s parents.
If you wish to change your name, or that of your child – please contact our Family Law Specialists for advice and assistance.
Please contact Ties Bouwmeester on 01206 835237 or [email protected]
The advice on this website is provided for general information only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. You should not act or rely on any of this information, but should seek legal advice on your particular circumstances.
With over 40 years’ experience, Fisher Jones Greenwood is a long-established Essex Solicitors. With nine offices around Essex, Suffolk and London. Phone us on 08455 435 700 or email us and we’ll call you back to arrange a meeting with a solicitor or lawyer.
Request A CallbackWhat is the cost of a change of name deed?
For an adult it is £100 plus VAT and for a child it is £125 plus VAT.
See our fixed fee pages for further details.
Do I need to come in to the office?
Yes, because your signature (and that of the child’s father on a change of name deed for a child) will need to be witnessed by one of our family law specialists.
My son or daughter has not seen their dad since they were a baby and I want to change their name to mine, do I have to have his consent?
In order for Fisher Jones Greenwood to prepare a change of name deed on your behalf, you will either need to attend the office with the father of the child in order to both sign the deed or to bring in a written letter of consent from the father of the child.
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