Yes. You can absolutely make your own deed poll. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor or a deed poll service. The right to change your name by deed poll is based on common law, and the document wording is publicly available. If you follow the requirements carefully, a self-written deed poll is just as legally valid as one produced by any service.
This guide explains exactly what your deed poll needs to contain, how to sign it correctly, and when it makes practical sense to use a service instead.
What the deed poll must say
A valid deed poll must include the following elements:
- Your current full name — the name you are giving up
- Your new full name — the name you are adopting
- A declaration that you are abandoning your old name — something to the effect of: "I absolutely and entirely renounce, relinquish and abandon the use of my former name…"
- A declaration that you will use your new name exclusively — that you intend to use the new name at all times
- A declaration that you will require all persons to use your new name
- Your address
- The date
- Your signature in your new name
- The signatures of two independent adult witnesses, along with their names and addresses
The GOV.UK website publishes the standard wording. Always use the official template rather than one found on an unofficial third-party site, which may be outdated or slightly incorrect.
Who can be a witness?
Your two witnesses must be:
- Independent adults (aged 18 or over)
- Not related to you
- Not related to each other
- Present at the time of signing
Witnesses do not need any legal qualifications. A colleague, friend, or neighbour is fine. They do not need to know the content of the deed poll in advance — they are simply witnessing your signature.
Step-by-step: making your own deed poll
- Find the current standard wording on GOV.UK
- Type the document, inserting your current name, new name, and address exactly as you intend them to appear
- Print the document on plain white A4 paper — no special paper is required
- Arrange to sign it in front of two witnesses who are both present at the same time
- Sign the document in your new name in front of both witnesses
- Each witness then signs, prints their name, and writes their address
- Keep the signed original somewhere safe
- Make certified copies to send to organisations
What could go wrong with a DIY deed poll?
The main risks with a self-written deed poll are:
- Incorrect or incomplete wording — if the required declarations are missing or worded incorrectly, some organisations may question the document's validity
- Typos in your name or address — even small errors can cause problems when submitting to the Passport Office or DVLA, which compare names carefully
- Using an outdated template — some templates found online are years old and may not reflect current expectations
- Witnesses who are not truly independent — if an organisation queries this, it can delay things
None of these problems make the deed poll automatically invalid, but they can cause delays and require you to produce a fresh document.
When does a paid service make sense?
A paid service is worth considering if:
- You want certainty that the wording is correct without researching it yourself
- You want a professionally formatted document that looks exactly as organisations expect
- You are in a hurry and want the document ready in minutes
- You are going through something emotionally significant and want one less thing to deal with
Our service costs £14.99. For that, you get a correctly formatted deed poll generated from a current, verified template — without any of the research or formatting work. If you are comfortable doing the research and careful with the details, DIY is a perfectly valid route. If you would rather have it done right without the effort, £14.99 is fair value.
Is a handwritten deed poll valid?
Yes. A deed poll does not need to be typed — it can be written by hand, provided the wording is correct and legible. In practice, a typed document is much easier for organisations to read and is less likely to raise questions, so typing is strongly recommended.
Does it need to be on headed paper?
No. Plain white A4 paper is fine. There is no requirement for any kind of official letterhead, stamp, or seal.