Change Your Name in Wales
The fast and simple way to legally change your name in Wales.
Wales' Deed Poll
Name Change Service
Includes 5 Original Copies and Royal Mail Delivery
The Simple Way to Change Your Name in Northern Ireland
The process of changing your name in Wales is simpler than you might think. You don't need to apply to a court, request permission, or hire a solicitor, and the change is legally binding across Wales and the rest of the UK.
Instead, you can change your name in just a few days using a document called a deed poll, a legally binding declaration that states your intention to abandon your old name and adopt a new one.
There are no strict criteria to meet. Anyone aged 16 or over who lives in Wales can change their name at any time, for any reason.
You can change your child's name by deed poll too, with the consent of everyone who holds parental responsibility.
Whether you're getting married, starting fresh, or choosing a name that feels right, you can make it official with a deed poll.
It's the fastest, easiest and most popular way to change your name in Wales, and you can apply online in just a few minutes.
Includes 5 Original Copies and Royal Mail Delivery
Most organisations will only accept an original deed poll, not a photocopy, and some hold onto it for weeks while they process the change. Your application includes 5 original copies, so you can update several records at once, and have a spare in case one is lost or damaged.
Accepted in Wales and the UK
Each document is individually drafted to Welsh requirements, printed on parchment paper, embossed with a seal and assigned a unique serial number.
How it Works
Change your name legally in 3 steps.
Apply Online
Apply online in minutes. Your deed poll will be drafted and delivered to your door by Royal Mail within days.
Sign & Witness
Sign your deed poll in front of two people who know you, such as friends, neighbours or work colleagues.
Use Your New Name
Your name is now legally changed. Use your deed poll to update your passport, driving licence, bank accounts and other records.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Will my deed poll be accepted?
Yes. A deed poll from Wales Deed Poll Office is guaranteed to be accepted by every organisation in Wales and throughout the UK, including HM Passport Office, the DVA, banks and employers.
Do I need to register my name change?
No. There is no register of names in Wales or anywhere in the UK. Your deed poll is itself the legal proof of your new name, and you use it to update your records with each organisation directly.
What can I change my name to?
Almost anything you choose. Your new name cannot include numbers or symbols, apart from hyphens and apostrophes, and it cannot be offensive or chosen to mislead. Beyond that, the choice is yours.
How long does it take?
Your deed poll arrives within days, and your name is legally changed the moment you and your witnesses sign it. Updating your documents afterwards depends on each organisation's processing times.
Can anyone change their name?
Anyone who is 16 or over and lives in Wales can change their name by deed poll, whatever their nationality or citizenship. To change a child's name, everyone with parental responsibility must consent.
Ready to Change Your Name?
Apply online and receive your deed poll within days, ready to sign.
Includes 5 Original Copies and Royal Mail Delivery