Change your name by Deed Poll

In the UK anyone can change their name if they want to.

If you do change your name, many official bodies may request a Deed Poll (also called a ‘Change of Name Deed’) to prove the change.

You must check before using this service, that a Change of Name Deed issued by the Register Office will be accepted by the organisation requiring evidence of your change of name.

Application process

Leeds Register Office will keep a copy of your Deed Poll in our records, in case you need a duplicate in future.

All appointments are held at:

Merrion House,
Woodhouse Lane,
Leeds,
LS2 8LX

Birth and marriage certificates

Changing your name by Deed Poll cannot amend or replace a legal birth or marriage certificate. You will need to present the Deed Poll with these certificates when you’re asked for them, for example when applying for a passport.

Restrictions

By using our Deed Poll service you can change any part or all of your name, but there are some restrictions. You cannot change your name with us if you:

  • are under 16
  • are not a British National
  • plan to do something illegal such as commit fraud
  • want to call yourself something vulgar, offensive, blasphemous, or similarly unsuitable
  • want to add a title such as Sir, Lord, Lady, Duke, or Duchess
  • want to add symbols, numbers or punctuation marks
We reserve the right to refuse to change your name to something we consider inappropriate.

Further information

If you have any further questions about our Deed Poll service, please contact us:

Phone

0113 222 4408
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we're open from 10am)

Request a call back by email:

Information we may collect about you

The council has a statutory duty to register births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships and to administer citizenship services on behalf of the Home Office. Your information will only be used to assist us with your registration appointment and/or ceremony or your copy certificate application. We will not share this information with anyone else unless we are required to do so by law. Please see our privacy policy for further information on how we process your personal data.

Use this form to give us your comments. Do not use it to give us personal information - please contact us if you need to get in touch.