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Statutory Declarations of Name Changes are formal documents used to change a person’s name using the proper legal procedures. A Statutory Declaration of Name Change can be used if you want official organisations (eg employers or banks) to recognise your new name. For more information, read Changing your name.
Use this Statutory Declaration of Name Change:
if you are over 18
when you want to officially change your given name, surname, or both
to provide evidence to your employer, banks, and other organisations that you have changed your name
if you are based in England, Wales or Scotland
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I, of formerly known as do solemnly and sincerely declare that:
IN WITNESS of this I have signed in both my old name of which I relinquish and my new name of by which I shall from__________________________________(insert date) be known.
DECLARED by the above mentioned
(Section below to be completed by a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths.)
| AT |
This__________________________________day of__________________________________(date) |
| BEFORE ME |
| Solicitor/Commissioner for Oaths (delete as appropriate) |
Notify others of your new address when you move
Protect you and your future spouse's independent assets
Obtain parental responsibility of a child
Record financial arrangements between you and your cohabitee
This Statutory Declaration of Name Change template covers:
providing written evidence that you have changed your name and now want to only be known by your new name
space for the Declaration to be witnessed by an appropriate person
Anyone can change their name at any time. However, you will usually need to provide evidence of your change of name to be able to use a new name on official documents or to have the change recognised by some government organisations, banks, or utility companies. These organisations will usually accept your Declaration, as long as the name change is genuine and isn't fraudulent.
Using a Statutory Declaration of Name Change is similar to getting your name changed by a deed poll (a different type of legal document that can be used to change names). However, unlike a deed poll, you cannot have a Statutory Declaration officially registered.
Aside from Statutory Declaration of Name Change and deed poll, other ways of changing your name include through marriage, civil partnership, divorce, or dissolution of civil partnership.
You must be aged 18 or over in order to make a Statutory Declaration of Name Change. Ask a lawyer for advice if you would like to change your child’s name (eg following a divorce and remarriage).
A Statutory Declaration of Name Change should include your old name, the new name you wish to be known by, your clear intention to change your name accordingly, and your current address.
You will need to sign the Declaration (using your new name and your old name) in the presence of a solicitor, a Commissioner for Oaths (in England and Wales), a notary public (in Scotland), or a justice of the peace (in Scotland). This person must also include their details and sign the document to make it valid.
For more information on completing and signing the Statutory Declaration of Name Change, read our Make it legal checklist.
Once you have completed and printed your Statutory Declaration of Name Change, you will have to have it sworn (ie witnessed) by a solicitor or similar for it to be valid.
You should inform all official organisations, banks, and companies which you deal with on a regular basis. These may include:
the DVLA (the UK’s driver licensing agency)
doctors (eg your GP) and dentists
your bank, credit card company, and building society
your employer
phone and broadband providers
You may also need to change your name with any online shopping or entertainment companies that hold your payment details (eg Amazon or Netflix) and your local gym or companies with which you have direct debit arrangements. This is because having a name on these accounts that is different to the one held by your bank or credit card provider can cause payment issues.
To change your name on a passport you may need to use a deed poll instead of a Statutory Declaration of Name Change. Deed polls are more formal documents as they can be enrolled through the courts. Enrolling a deed poll means that you’re putting your new name on the public record.
Making your Statutory Declaration of Name Change online is simple. Just answer a few questions and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of your information ready in advance, creating your document is a quick and easy process.
You’ll need the following information:
your old name
your new name
your current address
Statutory Declarations of Name Change formally set out somebody’s name change. To do this, this Statutory Declaration of Name Change template includes the following terms and sections:
Name and address
The Declaration starts by clearly identifying the person to whom it relates, by setting out their old name, new name, and address.
I absolutely and entirely renounce…
This first clause formally sets out the person’s intention to stop using their old name and to start using their new one.
I shall at all times hereafter in all records…
This clause expands on the intended name change by specifying, for example, that the new name is to be used in all documents, dealings, and similar.
I authorise and require all persons…
In this clause, the person gives others (eg organisations) express permission to use their new name to refer to them.
I make this solemn declaration…
This final clause contains a statement that the person changing their name is doing so conscientiously (eg not fraudulently). It identifies the legislation in accordance with which the name change is being made (ie the Statutory Declarations Act 1835).
In witness of this I have signed…
This line acts as a precursor to the signatures and contains the date on which the name change is to be effective.
Declared by the above aforementioned…
The person changing their name should sign the Declaration below this line, using both their old and new names. Remember that you must sign a printed hard copy of the Document in the presence of a solicitor or similar.
Section below to be completed by a solicitor…
The table at the bottom of the Declaration provides space for the solicitor or similar to witness the document and to enter the necessary details when they do so.
If you want your Statutory Declaration of Name Change to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review the document for you (or to make the changes for you) to make sure that your modified Statutory Declaration of Name Change complies with all relevant laws and will be enforceable. Use Rocket Lawyer’s Ask a lawyer service for assistance.
Make any other necessary changes
You may be changing your name simply because you want to change your name. Alternatively, you may be changing your name due to a wider change in your life. For example, if you’re separating from a partner or identifying as a different gender. In these instances, you may also want to take care of other legal matters. For example:
updating your address with organisations (eg your bank), if you’re moving house. You can use a Change of address letter to do this
applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate, to have the gender you identify as legally recognised if it’s different to that which is listed on your birth certificate
updating your testamentary wishes by making a will or a codicil if, for example, you’ve separated from a partner
Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
In some circumstances, it’s good practice to Ask a lawyer for advice to ensure that you’re complying with the law and that you are well protected from risks. You should consider asking for advice if:
you want to change your name by deed poll. This is necessary if you want to have your change of name officially registered. However, this is not a legal requirement in England and Wales, and a Statutory Declaration is accepted as evidence of a change of name for most purposes
you want to change the name of a child
