How Many Copies of My Deed Poll Do I Need?

When you change your name by Deed Poll, one of the practical questions you may have is:

How many copies of my Deed Poll should I order?

There isn't one number that's right for everyone. The number of original Deed Polls that may be useful depends largely on how many organisations you need to notify and how you plan to update your records.

Why might I need more than one original?

After changing your name, you may need to update your details with a number of different organisations.

These could include your:

• Passport

• Driving licence

• Bank or building society

• Employer

• HMRC

• GP and other healthcare providers

• Council

• Utility providers

• Insurance companies

• Pension providers

Different organisations have their own procedures for updating a name. Some may ask to see an original Deed Poll, while others may accept different evidence or have their own requirements.

It's therefore always worth checking the requirements of each organisation before sending your documents.

Can I use the same Deed Poll for everything?

You don't necessarily need a separate Deed Poll for every organisation you contact.

However, if an organisation requires you to send an original document through the post, you may have to wait for it to be returned before you can send that same document elsewhere.

Having additional originals can therefore make the process more convenient, particularly if you have several organisations to update.

For example, you may be able to deal with more than one name-change notification at the same time rather than waiting for a single document to travel backwards and forwards.

How many should I order?

Think about the number of organisations you expect to contact and whether you are comfortable sending your only original document through the post.

Someone with relatively few records to update may decide that one original is sufficient.

Someone with numerous bank accounts, financial products, memberships or other records may find having several originals more convenient.

The important point is that you don't need to order large numbers simply because you're changing your name. Choose the number that makes sense for your circumstances.

Original Deed Polls and photocopies

A photocopy isn't automatically a substitute for an original Deed Poll.

Individual organisations decide what evidence they'll accept when updating their records. If you're unsure, check directly with the organisation before sending anything.

This can save you time and avoid sending documents unnecessarily.

Additional original copies from Trusted Deed Poll

At Trusted Deed Poll, your first Deed Poll costs £15.

If you'd like more than one original, additional original copies are available for £2 each.

This gives you the choice to order the number that suits your own name-change process rather than paying for copies you don't need.

Making your name change easier

Once your Deed Poll has been completed, you can begin updating the organisations that hold your details.

Planning which organisations you need to contact — and checking what evidence each one requires — can make the process considerably more manageable.

Trusted Deed Poll also provides free online guidance covering many of the organisations you may need to notify after changing your name.

Clear information. Clear pricing. A straightforward way to change your name.

Visit trusteddeedpoll.co.uk