Read the document to make sure it meets your needs and that you’ve provided all of the necessary information. Remember that, if you have any questions, you can Ask a lawyer for advice.
Statutory declaration of name change checklist
Make it Legal™ Checklist
Here are a few important steps to take to finish your document
The Statutory Declaration of Name Change must be signed in a specific way in order to be legally valid.
You must sign your Statutory Declaration in front of either:
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a solicitor (if you’re in England, Wales, or Scotland)
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a Commissioner for Oaths (in England or Wales)
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a notary public (in Scotland), or
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a justice of the peace (in Scotland)
You should print your Declaration yourself but do not sign it yet.
Organise an appointment with a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, notary public, or justice of the peace who agrees to witness your document. In front of this person:
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write the date in long hand (ie in words) in the space provided for this purpose in the paragraph of the Declaration that begins ‘IN WITNESS…’
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sign the Statutory Declaration of Name Change using both your old and new names, in the spaces provided
The solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, notary public, or justice of the peace will:
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print the address where the declaration (ie the signing) took place
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date and sign the Statutory Declaration of Name Change
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print their full name and address (most solicitors have a stamp with their address details for this purpose)
It’s best to ask the solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, notary public, or justice of the peace to also certify some copies of your Declaration, as you may need more than one. Certified copies are those that are confirmed as true copies of an original document by a qualified person. While Rocket Lawyer does not provide certification services, they can be provided by most solicitors for a fee.
Send the original or a certified copy of your Declaration to the organisations that you want to recognise your name change. This usually includes:
It’s best to send certified copies, but you should check whether organisations require an original before sending them a Declaration.
Keep an original signed copy of your Statutory Declaration of Name Change and any certified copies stored in a safe place.
An unsigned copy of your Statutory Declaration of Name Change will also be stored automatically in your Rocket Lawyer account ‘Dashboard’.
Things you may do next include:
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applying for a new passport in your new name
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updating your name on the Electoral Register
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updating your details for any properties you own that are registered at the Land Registry
