Court Registration

There is no central registration system or record kept of name changes and therefore there is no way of searching under a person’s name to see what other names they may have used in the past. However, a change of name document can be enrolled at the Supreme Court of Justice. This is optional and is not compulsory. Enrollment provides a public record of your name change . However the procedure is more time consuming and costly as it involves the advertising the change of name and in addition the name document can only be registered if the following are complied with :- 

• The deponent must be described as being single, married, widowed or divorced.  

• Sign the deed in both the old and new names  

• Be a British Citizen or Commonwealth citizen (proof of citizenship must be provided)  

• Produce a Statutory Declaration exhibiting the Change of Name Deed  

• Marriage certificate must be supplied if deponent is married as well as notice given to his/her spouse of the proposed name change and consent of the spouse or provide good reason why such consent should be dispensed with  

• Produce any relevant Birth certificates  

• Agree for an advertisement in the London Gazette  

• Pay an enrolment fee of £10.00 and £52.33 for advertising charges  

If you wish to register your change of name in this manner you must write to :- 

Deed Polls,
Filing and Record Department,
Control Office,
Room F07,
The Royal Courts of Justice,
The Strand,
London WC2A 2LL .