Getting married is one of the most common reasons people change their name in the UK, but many people are surprised to learn that a marriage certificate does not automatically entitle you to any name — it only allows you to take your spouse's existing surname. If you want anything more than a straightforward surname swap, you will need a deed poll.
If you are simply taking your spouse's surname — the name exactly as it appears on their birth certificate — then your marriage certificate is usually sufficient evidence for the Passport Office, DVLA, most banks, and HMRC. You present the original or a certified copy of the marriage certificate, and organisations update their records accordingly. This works in both directions: a husband can take his wife's surname with a marriage certificate just as a wife can take her husband's.
However, there are many situations where a marriage certificate alone will not do. If you want to create a double-barrelled surname combining both your names, your marriage certificate does not cover this — you need a deed poll. If you want to change your first name at the same time, again, a deed poll is required. If you want to take a completely new surname that neither of you currently holds, or if you want to combine your surnames in a new way, a deed poll is the only legal route.
Some people also choose to use a deed poll even when their marriage certificate would technically suffice, simply because a single deed poll is a cleaner, more consistent document to present to every organisation, rather than having to explain the relationship between the marriage certificate and the name change each time. Banks and insurers can sometimes be slow to process marriage certificate changes, whereas a deed poll is immediately recognisable to every organisation.
The process is straightforward. Fill in the form on this site with your current name, your new married name, your address, and your witnesses' details. Pay £14.99, download the PDF, print it, and sign it in front of two adult witnesses. Your deed poll becomes legally valid the moment it is signed. You can then use it — alongside your marriage certificate if you choose — to update your records with every organisation in the UK.
There is no time limit on when you must change your name after marriage. Many people do it immediately after the wedding; others wait months or years. Your deed poll is valid whenever you sign it, and it remains valid indefinitely. Whether you're updating records a week after the ceremony or several years later, the process is identical.