Who Can Witness a Deed Poll? UK Rules Explained

Who is this deed poll for?

MyselfAged 16 or over — £14.99 My childUnder 16 — £19.99

1 Your details

Name you are changing from

First name

Middle name optional

Last name

Name you are changing to

First name

Middle name optional

Last name

Email address

Only used to retrieve your deed poll if you lose it. No marketing emails.

Date of birth

Day

Month

Year

Your current address

Address line 1

Address line 2 optional

Town / City

Postcode

Date of deed

2 Witness details

A UK deed poll requires two witnesses. They must be adults, not related to you, and present when you sign. They do not need to be a solicitor.

Witness 1

First name

Last name

Address line 1

Town / City

Postcode

Witness 2

First name

Last name

Address line 1

Town / City

Postcode

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Tell everyone about your new name — add ready-to-sign letters

Every letter personalised with your details, ready to print, sign and post. Downloaded alongside your deed poll.

Add the letter pack — all 9 letters below £6.99

Address included, ready to post

HMRC — tax and National Insurance
DVLA — driving licence

You add the address

HM Passport Office
Bank or building society
GP surgery / NHS
Employer — HR and payroll
Local council — council tax and electoral register
Utilities & broadband
Pension provider

Being straight with you: the DVLA and passport letters are cover letters — a driving licence is changed with the free D1 form, and a passport needs a new application. The letters make the paperwork easier, not different.

Deed poll £14.99

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Common questions

Can a family member be a witness?

Close relatives cannot be witnesses: this includes parents, siblings, children, grandparents, and your spouse or civil partner. More distant relatives (cousins, aunts, uncles) are acceptable in most cases, though it is best practice to use non-relatives where possible.

Does a witness need to be a UK citizen or resident?

No. There is no nationality or residency requirement for a witness. Any adult who is not a close relative and who is physically present when you sign is suitable.

What does a witness need to do?

A witness must be present in person when you sign the deed poll. After you sign, they sign the document themselves, writing their full name and address alongside their signature. They do not need to read the whole document or understand its legal implications; they are simply confirming they witnessed your signature.

Do both witnesses need to be present at the same time?

Yes. Both witnesses should ideally be present at the same time, or at a minimum each should watch you sign independently. You should not sign once in front of one witness and then present the same signature to a second witness who was not present; each witness must personally observe your signature.

Can I use the same witness twice if I need multiple copies?

Yes. If you are signing multiple original copies of your deed poll (e.g., to have one for each organisation), the same witnesses can witness each signing.

Deed Poll Witness Requirements UK

1 Your details

2 Witness details

Common questions

Can a family member be a witness?

Does a witness need to be a UK citizen or resident?

What does a witness need to do?

Do both witnesses need to be present at the same time?

Can I use the same witness twice if I need multiple copies?

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