A Deed Poll is a legal document - not a certificate. It is a form of legal contract but it differs from legal contracts between two or more parties in that it only concerns one person (and it is only signed by that person). A Deed Poll therefore binds the person who signs it to a particular course of action as detailed on the Deed Poll document.
Although Deed Polls are used for various purposes relating to an individual legally committing themselves to doing something, they have one generally accepted meaning, that is, a change of name. However, the correct legal name for a deed that has been drawn up to change someone's name is a Deed of Change of Name.
A Deed Poll for a change of name contains three declarations and by executing the Deed Poll (signing, dating and having your signing witnessed) you are committing yourself to:
- Abandoning the use of your former name;
- Using your new name only at all times
- Requiring all persons to address you by your new name only
If you would like more information about Deed Polls, please contact one of our members who will be pleased to provide further details.