A deed poll must be signed in front of two witnesses to be legally valid in the UK. The witnesses play an important role: they are confirming that they saw you sign the document and that you did so willingly. Without two valid witnesses, the deed poll is not legally enforceable. Getting the witnesses right is one of the most important parts of the process.
Each witness must be an adult (18 or over) who is not a close relative. Close relatives who should not witness include parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and your spouse or civil partner. Witnesses do not need to be UK citizens, do not need to be in any particular profession, and do not need to know you well — a trusted colleague, friend, or neighbour is ideal. They must be present in person when you sign, and must sign the deed poll themselves, adding their own name and address.
The two witnesses can be anyone who meets these criteria. They do not need to witness each other's signatures — only yours. Each witness independently confirms that they saw you sign. After signing, the witnesses have no ongoing obligation or legal responsibility. They are simply confirming the facts of the signing event. This service includes the witness signature blocks in the deed poll it generates, with the correct spaces for each witness's name and address.