- To change your surname in the UK you will need to prove who you are. Standard items of proof are your passport, driver's license and birth certificate. You also will have to provide proof of address (a recent bank statement and two utility bills that show your name and address are sufficient).
- To change your surname in the UK by statutory declaration all you need to do is make a statement of your intention to abandon your old surname and use a new one. To prevent any complications, you can enlist the help of an adviser from your local Citizens Advice Bureau. To find the nearest location, use their website (see Resources). A statutory declaration must be sworn to before a Commissioner of Oaths or a Justice of the Peace. The Citizens Advice Bureau can help set that up for you.
- A Deed Poll is simply a formal legal statement to change your surname. You will have to change your surname by Deed Poll to get a passport or other official documents. When you complete your Deed Poll, the details will become public record when they're published in the Belfast or London Gazette. To complete the Deed Poll, go to the register office where your birth was registered and pay the fee. In 2009, the Deed Poll fee was £40. You also will need to have someone, such as a lawyer, witness you signing the document. If you need help finding a witness, visit the local Citizens Advice Bureau in your area. You can also use the online UK Deed Poll Service (see Resources). You will still need to have it witnessed, however.
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