Executing Your Deed Poll

Executing a deed poll is the legal term for signing and witnessing your document. Once executed, your deed poll becomes legally valid and you can start using your new name.

What Execution Means

Execution is the process of making your deed poll legally binding. This involves:

  • You signing the document
  • Two witnesses observing your signature
  • Your witnesses signing the document
  • Your deed poll is not valid until it has been properly executed.

When to Execute Your Deed Poll

You should execute your deed poll as soon as you receive it. Once executed, your name is legally changed immediately.



Do not sign your deed poll before your witnesses are present. They must see you sign the document for the execution to be valid.

Your Signature

You must sign your deed poll using your new name. This is important because you are declaring that you will use this name from now on.


You can either keep your existing signature or create a new one. Both are acceptable.



Sign clearly and consistently. You will need to use this signature when updating your documents with organisations.

Witness Requirements

You need two witnesses to execute your deed poll.

Who Can Be a Witness

Your witnesses must:

  • Be 18 years old or over
  • Know you personally
  • Not be related to you
  • Be present when you sign


Suitable witnesses include:

  • Friends
  • Neighbours
  • Work colleagues
  • Teachers or lecturers


Cannot be witnesses:

  • Family members (parents, siblings, children, spouse, partner)
  • Anyone under 18
  • Anyone who does not know you

What Witnesses Do

Your witnesses must:

  • Watch you sign your deed poll
  • Sign the document themselves
  • Provide their full name and address
  • Witnesses are confirming that they saw you sign the document. They are not vouching for your identity or agreeing with your name change.

Witness Information

Each witness must provide:

  • Their full name
  • Their full address (including postcode)
  • Their signature

The address should be their current residential address. This helps identify who the witnesses are.

After Execution

Once you have signed your deed poll and both witnesses have signed, your name is legally changed.


You can now use your deed poll to update your name with:

  • Government departments
  • Banks and financial institutions
  • Employers
  • Healthcare providers
  • Any other organisations


See our full list of organisations you should inform when you change your name.


Keep your original deed poll safe. Most organisations require you to show the original document or a certified copy when updating your name.

Common Mistakes

Signing before witnesses arrive - Your witnesses must see you sign. If you sign before they arrive, the execution is not valid.


Using family members as witnesses - Family members cannot witness your deed poll. Choose friends, neighbours or colleagues instead.


Incomplete witness details - Make sure your witnesses provide their full name and complete address. Missing information can cause problems when updating documents.

Additional Copies

Most organisations do not accept photocopies of your deed poll. They require either the original document or a certified copy.


A certified copy is a photocopy that has been verified as a true copy of the original by a solicitor, notary or other authorised professional.



We recommend ordering multiple original copies when you apply for your deed poll. This allows you to update your records and documents with different organisations at the same time, rather than waiting for one to return your deed poll before sending it to the next. It also means you do not need to pay a solicitor to certify photocopies.

Apply for Your Deed Poll

Once you receive your deed poll from Deedly, you can execute it immediately and start using your new name.