Can you change your childs name

Birth certificates can only be changed in certain circumstances; see the section on birth certificates above. There are some occasions where a statutory declaration is not sufficient to change details; on official documents like a passport or driving licence a deed poll is required. You can write your own statutory declaration or a solicitor can draft one for you. Solicitors usually charge for drafting and signing statutory declarations and courts charge a fee. Deed poll is a legal way of getting evidence of a name change but it does not change the name on a birth certificate.

Birth certificates can only be changed in certain circumstances — see the section on birth certifcates below. Many people may not need to change their name by deed poll and can manage on a day to day basis by simply requesting that others call them by their new name or getting a statutory declaration.

If a name is changed by deed poll it can be changed again at a later date, if necessary, by getting another deed poll. You can write the deed poll yourself but you should take care to include all the necessary information. Ready-made forms are available from some stationers or a solicitor can prepare a deed poll for a fee. The document should be signed by two witnesses, stating their names and occupations.

The statement must be signed by all those who have parental responsibility for the child, and by a witness. Solicitors usually charge for drafting deed polls and the court charges a fee if you decide to enrol the deed. There is no central register of name changes in the UK but you can choose to log a record of your deed poll with the Royal Courts of Justice, which keeps public records.

This is called enrolling your deed poll. Enrolling keeps a safe record of the change and allows you to request copies if needed. There is a charge for the service. You can find more information on deed polls at gov. This is because a birth certificate is seen as a historic record of the facts at the time of the birth. A birth certificate can only be amended in the circumstances listed below. Forms are available from your local register office.

Completed forms should be sent to the registry office where the birth certificate was originally registered. You must be the mother, father, or legal guardian of the child to make the change. Any further changes cannot be recorded on the birth certificate. Building family togetherness does not depend on the use of the same family surname.

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How to change your child's surname When a child is born to married parents one or both of them will register the child's name on the birth certificate.

Unmarried mothers can only enter the father's name if they: both agree and sign the register each produce a sworn statement, or have an appropriate Court Order After a divorce children normally keep their present surname but their name can be changed. The law on family names You cannot simply change a child's last name when you remarry or set up a new partnership.

How to change your child's last name A name can effectively be changed by common usage but this normally relates to first names only and will not usually be legally enforceable.

Questions from other parents Q. What if I was unmarried when the child was born? How long does it take? It varies according to which route you take. Your solicitor will advise you. Can a child change their own name? Can a child object to their name being changed? How much does it cost? Both parents on the birth certificate need to prove their identity. One of the easiest ways to prove your identity is by presenting your driver licence if it confirms your residential address and your passport.

Learn more about how to prove your identity. Documents must be current not expired. If you cannot provide current photo identification, please contact us.

You need to send us the original, not a copy. Enter details exactly as you want them on the certificate. This includes spelling and capitalisation e. You may have to pay to correct a mistake or get a replacement certificate. Additional wait times will apply. Learn more about uploading hard copy documents online. A sole parentage order alone does not give you the right to change your child's name.

Both parents still need to complete the application. You may have to provide additional documents. Contact us for more advice. The certificate is valid for all legal and official purposes. Order a new birth certificate External link.

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