Using a Statutory Declaration to Change Your Name

You can technically change your name in Northern Ireland with a statutory declaration. In practice, almost nobody does, and using one can cause problems when you update your records.



This article explains what a statutory declaration is, why it causes difficulties for name changes, and what people in Northern Ireland use instead.

What a Statutory Declaration Is

A statutory declaration is a formal statement made in front of a solicitor, a notary public, or a Justice of the Peace. For a name change, you would declare your old name and your new name.



Statutory declarations are legitimate legal documents, and one declaring a name change is technically valid in Northern Ireland. They are also used for many purposes unrelated to names.

The Problem in Practice

Statutory declarations are essentially never used for name changes in Northern Ireland. People here use a deed poll or the government service run by the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI).

This matters because your name change document only works if the organisations holding your records accept it. Staff at banks, government departments and other organisations handle deed polls routinely.

Many will never have seen a statutory declaration used for a name change, and an unfamiliar document can mean questions, delays, or refusal until someone more senior reviews it.

There is also the cost. A statutory declaration must be made in front of a legal professional, and a solicitor will charge for this.

What People Use Instead

A deed poll is a legal document declaring that you have given up your old name and will use your new name. You sign it in front of 2 independent witnesses, at no cost, and it is legally binding from that moment. Our article on how deed polls work explains the process in detail.



It is the traditional method of changing your name, and it is the document record holders recognise and process without hesitation. It is also the only one of the two designed solely for changing your name, which is part of why organisations handle it so smoothly.

Which Document to Use

A deed poll. It is quicker to arrange, costs less, and is recognised everywhere your name change needs to be recorded.

Every deed poll from Deedly is drafted to Northern Irish requirements and guaranteed to be accepted, or your money back.

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.