Changing your name
Once you’ve started transitioning you’ll probably want to change your name to reflect your intended new gender.
Providing you’re not out to defraud or deceive another person, you generally do not need to follow any legal procedure to undertake a change of name. All you need to do is to begin using your new name whenever you like.
However, in order to change your name on certain key documents you need to legally change your name using either by Statutory Declaration for Change of Name or by Deed Poll (to be discussed further down).
Once you’ve legally changed your name you can then officially change the following:
- Bank account
Changing your name at the bank is fairly simple – just go to the information point in your branch and state you need to change your name and title on your account. You will probably be taken aside for someone to review your documents and explain the next steps. You’ll generally get a new card and cheque book sent to you in the post.Documents required:
• Copy of change of name document (deed poll or statutory declaration)
• A doctor’s letter is not required, but may help if there is resistance to give you the correct title.
There are no costs to changing your name and gender markers at your bank.
- Medical Records
Each GP surgery may differ in terms of how to go about changing your name with your doctors. You could start by asking to see the practice manager. You can then show them your name change document and doctors or GIC letter and allow them to make any necessary copies.
- Drivers licence (Click here to apply)
- Passport (Click here to apply)
You will need the doctor’s letter when changing your Passport
- HMRC (Tax and NIC) (Click here to apply)
- Dept of Works & Pensions (DWP)
You can change your name and gender on everything except your birth certificate and with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) without a Gender Recognition Certificate. The DWP will allow you to change your name, but not your gender marker.
Changes for many other documents don’t usually require an official document. A simple phone call to the organisation will often suffice.
- Council tax
- Electoral Role
- Car and House insurances
There are two formal ways of providing legal evidence for your name change:
Statutory Declaration for Change of Name
A Deed Poll
A Statutory Declaration for Change of Name can be witnessed by the following:
- a solicitor (will normally charge a fee)
- a notary public (will normally charge a fee)
- a barrister (will normally charge a fee)
- a Licensed Conveyancer (in England & Wales) (may charge a fee)
- a Chartered Legal Executive (in England & Wales) (may charge a fee)
- any Commissioner for Oaths (may charge a fee)
- a Justice of the Peace (that is, a magistrate) (will normally charge a fee)
- officers of the armed services with the rank of Major, Lieutenant Commander, or Squadron Leader and above
- the British Diplomatic and Consular Officers in post abroad
- any other qualified person authorised by law to administer an oath
However, there are a few magistrates courts that are not prepared to witness a Statutory Declaration for Change of Name because they think that a Deed Poll should be used instead. You will need to explain to them that a Statutory for Declaration Change of Name is just evidence showing that you are using another name and therefore there is no need for you to use a deed poll, which is a more formal method.
There is one main difference between using a Statutory Declaration Change of Name or a Deed Poll, and that is that a Statutory Declaration Change of Name tends to be more expensive as solicitors and others usually levy a fee for its preparation and witnessing it. A small fee may be required by the court if you use a JP to witness your declaration.
In Scotland, a Statutory Declaration Change of Name can be witnessed free of charge by the Convener or a Councillor from your local authority who have been allowed to do this since 10 December 2007. Click here
Certainly in Scotland, for both simplicity and being cost free I would recommend using a Statutory Declaration Change of Name over a Deed Poll and having your local Convener or a Councillor witnessing the form.
Download: Statutory Declaration Change of Name (Scotland)
Download: Statutory Declaration Change of Name (rest of UK)
If you decide you’ve prefer to change your name by Deed Poll you can find the official Government Information – Click here