Child Deed Poll
Children under the age of 16 cannot change their own name. A person with Parental Responsibility must execute the Deed Poll on their behalf.
Parental Responsibility and Consent
To change a child's name by Deed Poll, you must have the consent of everyone who holds Parental Responsibility for the child.
If another person holds Parental Responsibility but refuses to give consent, you cannot use a Deed Poll. In this situation, you must apply to the courts for a Specific Issue Orderto gain legal permission to change the child's name without their consent.
Who has Parental Responsibility?
- The Birth Mother: Always has parental responsibility automatically.
- The Father: Usually has parental responsibility if he was married to the mother at the time of birth, or (for births registered in England and Wales after 1st December 2003) if he is listed on the child's birth certificate.
- Adoptive Parents: Have parental responsibility.
- Others: Guardians or those who have acquired parental responsibility via a court order.
How it Works
When completing the application for a Child Deed Poll, the applicant is the parent or guardian, and the document is drafted to state that the parent is changing the child's name on their behalf.
The parent(s) must sign the Deed Poll in the presence of an independent witness. The child does not sign the document.