Signing and Witnessing Your Deed Poll

Your deed poll must be signed in front of 2 witnesses to be legally binding. Once you and your witnesses have signed, your name is changed.



This article explains how to sign your deed poll correctly, who can witness it, and what happens after.

When to Sign

Sign your deed poll as soon as you receive it. Your name is legally changed the moment the signing is complete.


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

Your Signature

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 need 2 witnesses. They must:

  • Be 18 or over
  • Know you personally
  • Not be related to you
  • Not live at your address
  • Be present when you sign
  • Friends, neighbours and work colleagues are all suitable.

Family members cannot witness your deed poll, including parents, siblings, children, and your spouse or partner.

What Witnesses Do

Your witnesses watch you sign, then sign the document themselves. Each witness provides:

  • Their signature
  • Their full name
  • Their full address, including postcode

Witnesses are confirming that they saw you sign. They are not vouching for your identity or approving your name change.

After Signing

Once you and both witnesses have signed, your name is legally changed. There is nothing further to submit and nothing to register.


You can now use your deed poll to update your name with government departments, banks, your employer, healthcare providers and other organisations. See our full list of who to inform when you change your name.


Keep your deed poll safe. Organisations will ask to see the original document when updating your name.

Common Mistakes

Signing before witnesses arrive - Your witnesses must see you sign. If you sign first, the deed poll is not valid.


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


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

Ready to Change Your Name?

Apply online and receive your deed poll by post within days. Each document is printed on premium ivory parchment paper, assigned a serial number and embossed with a gold seal.



Once signed and witnessed, it is legally binding and accepted throughout Northern Ireland and the UK.