Free Deed Poll vs. Paid Deed Poll: What’s the Difference?
In the UK, changing your legal name often requires a deed poll. Deed polls serve as evidence that you have started using a new name. These documents are particularly important for name changes that are not the result of a marriage or divorce, as the deed poll will serve as the main form of documentation for your new name.
Both free and paid deed polls are an option. If you’re looking to change your name, you may be weighing each option, wondering which is best for your situation. In this article, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of free and paid deed polls to help you decide which option is best for your needs.
Please note if you want to create a free deed poll we have created a free tool to help you.
In the United Kingdom, you don’t actually need to go to a government office to change your name legally. Instead, you can just start using your new name, and then you will use the deed poll as proof of your name change for institutions like the DVLA and the passport office.
The deed poll serves as legal and witnessed documentation of the name change. To get a deed poll in the UK, you must be at least 16 years of age (if you are looking for a deed poll for a child under 16 click here).
Many people choose to change their birth name to a new preferred name. Name changes are also very common for those who are legally changing gender.
You may even need a deed poll for your new married name if you were married in a different country.
Now that you understand why you would need a deed poll, let's look at the differences between a free deed poll and a paid deed poll.
Legally you do not have to pay for a deed poll to change your name.
Therefore, the biggest advantage of a freed deed poll is that it won’t cost you anything. If you are on a very tight budget, creating your own deed poll for free will help you cut costs.
However, a free deed polls will require extra time to create, and you’ll still need to pay for paper and ink to print them. Yes, we know it sounds amusing.
To create your own deed poll, you’ll need to clearly state both your old name and your new name and indicate that you are changing it permanently going forward. You will also need to include your address as well as the names and addresses of your witnesses. To learn more about the requirements, visit www.gov.uk.
While free deed polls can help you save money, they also come with some disadvantages. It’s important to be aware of these potential downsides before using a free deed poll.
The biggest disadvantage of using a free deed poll is that not all government offices and businesses will accept them. This is because they typically don’t look as professional as a paid deed poll. If you’re getting a new passport or driver’s license, with your new name on it, you’ll need to present your deed poll to do so. In these cases, presentation is everything.
It is possible that your free deed poll might get rejected (as it doesn’t look official). This can cause the process of changing your name to take much longer.
It’s also crucial to make sure the text is properly formatted and that there are no typos. However, keep in mind that some organizations will still not accept this type of deed poll.
The other disadvantage of using a free deed poll is that they can take time to make. This is of particular concern if you are not very computer savvy. If you have a busy schedule, you may not have time to sit down and construct a deed poll.
Additionally, most government agencies prefer “higher quality paper” that regular home printers do not have.
The biggest advantage of a paid deed poll is that every official institution, like DVLA and passport offices, are guaranteed to accept your deed poll (In fact, we guarantee that our deed poll documents will be accepted, or you’ll get your money back).
This means you won’t have to worry about your documents getting denied when trying to make an important or even urgent name change.
As we stated earlier, it is crucial that your deed poll looks professional to ensure a smooth acceptance process.
Therefore, every one of our deed polls is made using sturdy gold parchment paper and is stamped with our official seal.
With our professional looking deed polls, you are guaranteed that your new name will be accepted by all major institutions. This will give you much-needed peace of mind while you are trying to change your name.
Changing your name is stressful enough without having to worry about your deed poll being rejected.
The second biggest advantage of a paid deed poll is the time you save.
Additionally, a paid deed poll is very simple to get and can be processed very quickly.
It takes just a few minutes to fill out the form online, so you won’t need to put in the same amount of effort as you would when creating your own deed poll.
You’ll just need to answer some basic information online and then we will send you your deed poll document via First Class Post.
START AN ADULT DEED POLL - £18.50A paid deed poll from us also comes with helpful guidance that you wouldn’t get if you created a deed poll yourself.
For example, our deed polls come with a list of places that potentially have records of your name. You can use this as a guide as you’re legally changing your name. You’ll want to make sure that your name is legally changed with all relevant agencies. This is a good reason to order a few extra certified copies.
Additionally, we are available to answer any questions that you have. If you’re new to the deed poll process or encounter any confusion, you can contact the office to get the help that you need.
Our customer service team is readily available throughout the week, and we’re happy to walk you through the entire process. You can't get our type of support from HM's offices.
With a paid deed poll, you can always order multiple certified copies. This means that you won’t have to worry about printing out new copies every time you need to go to a government office. Each copy from us has the same professional look and seal that you need.
Getting a paid deed poll online is the best option for most people.
While they do cost money, they are very reasonably priced (£18.50), and they offer a level of professionalism and efficiency that you won’t get if you create your own deed poll.
This type of deed poll is also much more affordable than hiring a solicitor to handle the deed poll as well.
Hopefully this article has been helpful in answering your questions about a free deed poll and a paid deed poll.
If you want to order a deed poll with us but you still have some questions please reach out.
We are more than happy to answer any of your questions and look forward to helping you change your name.
