I AM L.I.P

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

LOCO19 deed poll pack
(includes Forms LOCO20, LOCO21, LOCO25)

Forms to change your (Adult) surname by deed poll

 

PLEASE NOTE – WHEN WE WROTE THIS PAGE THESE FORMS WERE REFERRED TO AS THE LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK. SINCE THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAVE REMOVED THE WORDS LOCO19 BUT THE FORMS HAVE REMAINED THE SAME. FOR NOW WE HAVE, ON THIS WEBSITE, RETAINED THE WORDS ‘LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK’ SO THAT YOU CAN NAVIGATE THIS WEBSITE. WE WILL REMOVE THE WORDS ‘LOCO19’ AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

THIS WRITE UP IS FOR THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS DEED POLL PACK

The information in this L.I.P Help Guide is for an enrolled deed poll where you download the government forms, complete them, and send them to the Royal Courts of Justice with a fee. All organisations will accept a deed poll issued by this method.

WHAT IS LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK USED FOR?

LOCO19 is a deed poll pack which contains the forms LOCO20, LOCO21 and LOCO25. The LOCO19 deed poll pack is used to make an application to change the name of an adult. 

After your divorce, you may want to change your surname back to your maiden name. There is no legal reason to do so and no one can force you to do so. It may be better to keep your married surname, especially if you have children. Having the same surname as your children will make life easier when booking holidays, going through airport check-in, and with doctors/hospital appointments. 

If you decide you want to change your surname back to your maiden name after your divorce, the majority of companies and organisations that you have dealt with will do it when you show them your original marriage certificate and final order/decree absolute certificate – the legal document the court will give you stating that your marriage has ended once your divorce is finalised. 

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A FINAL ORDER

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A DECREE ABSOLUTE

However, there are situations where your divorce is taking so long because of complications and you may want to change your surname back to your maiden name before your final order/decree absolute certificate is issued. Or the situation may arise where some of your documents such as your NHS records may be on your maiden surname and some documents such as your passport maybe on your married surname (because you never got round to changing all your documents to your married name) and you want to make all your documents uniform with your maiden name. In these cases, you will need to change your married surname back to your maiden surname by deed poll. Therefore you will need the forms in this guide. These forms can be used if you are 18 years or above and a UK resident. 

As stated above LOCO19 deed poll pack is comprised of 3 forms – 

  • Form LOCO20 is used to change your name by deed poll.
  • Form LOCO21 is a statutory declaration for an adult to change their name. It confirms you are who you say you are. Form LOCO21 is a sworn document which declares in writing that the applicant (the person applying for the name change) is who the deed and the relevant documents/evidence/exhibits (such as passport) say they are.
  • Form LOCO25 is a notice for the London Gazette for your name change.

Please note – Page 2 of form LOCO19 deed poll pack states that if you are married you will need to attach a letter of consent from your spouse to your forms when you send them to the court. This letter should state that your spouse has no objection to you changing your name.

If you want to change your child’s surname and they are under 18 years of age, then you must complete LOCO19 minor deed poll pack which contains the forms LOCO22, LOCO23, LOCO24 and LOCO26.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR DEED POLL PACK LOCO19 MINOR (INCLUDES FORMS LOCO22, LOCO23, LOCO24 & LOCO26)

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK?

The LOCO19 deed poll pack includes guidance notes which you can download and read to help you complete forms LOCO20, LOCO21, LOCO25.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK OF FORMS AND GUIDANCE NOTES 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR CHANGE YOUR NAME BY DEED POLL

You can write to Deed Poll Enquiries, Enforcement Section Manager, Room E15, Queens Bench Division, Action Department, The Royal Court of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL. You can also call deed poll enquiries on 020 3936 8957 (option5). You can email – qbenforcement@justice.gov.uk.

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

The fee to send LOCO19 deed poll pack to the Royal Courts of Justice is £49.32. You can make your cheques, postal order, or bankers draft payable to ‘HMCTS’. You can also pay by cash or credit/debit card in person at the court itself or call 0203 936 8957 (option 1).

HOW TO COMPLETE LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK  AND WHERE TO SEND IT.

  • NOTE 1 – A deed poll is a legal document that you give to someone, a company, or an organisation so they can change your name on their records.
  • NOTE 2 – Your application for a deed poll will be sent to the Royal Courts of Justice and they will issue your deed poll.
  • NOTE 3 – The applicant is the person applying for the change of name.
  • NOTE 4 – As stated above, the information in this L.I.P Help Guide is for an enrolled deed poll where you download the LOCO19 deed poll pack, complete the forms within, and send them to the Royal Courts of Justice with a fee. You can make an unenrolled deed poll yourself if you are 16 years of age and over but some organisations may not accept this.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR MAKING YOUR OWN DEED POLL

  • NOTE 5 – You can complete your LOCO19 deed poll pack online and then print hard copies. Alternatively you can download LOCO19 deed poll pack, print the pack and then complete the forms by black pen. 
  • NOTE  6 – If at any stage you find there is not enough space to complete your answers on these individual forms then please use additional sheets of paper to continue on and attach them to your forms. Please write your name, address and question number on the top of your additional sheets of paper. 
  • NOTE 7 – Please keep a copy of your completed LOCO19 deed poll pack and any attachments for yourself outside of the ones you send.
  • NOTE 8 – LOCO19 deed poll pack is comprised of 3 forms – LOCO20, LOCO21 and LOCO25.
  • LOCO19 deed poll pack is 10 pages long.
  • FORM LOCO20 – Deed Poll (adult form)
    • You will first be asked to write the date in the space provided at the top of the form.
    • You will then be asked to write your NEW name in full.
    • The next box will ask for your address.
    • The next box will ask your OLD name.
    • You will then be asked your status, citizenship and nationality (single, married, widowed, divorced, British citizen, British Dependent Territories citizen, Commonwealth citizen). You must tick the relevant box.  
    • Next you will now be asked the section of the British Nationality Act 1981 you come under. To complete this section please refer to page 2 of form LOCO19 ‘what section am I in accordance with the British Nationality Act 1981’ and the bottom of page 4 of form LOCO19. However we will summarise for you here –
        • If you were born on or after January 1st 1983 and a British Citizen the section number you must write is Section 1 (1).
        • If you are a person who at December 31st 1982 was a citizen of the UK and its colonies and had the right to reside in the UK under the Immigration Act 1971 the section you must write is Section 11 (1).
        • If you were born outside of the UK and in any of the countries listed on the bottom of page 4 of form LOCO19 the section you must write is Section 37 (1).
    • You must now complete the next section and then sign your form LOCO20 in the presence of 2 witnesses who must also sign the form. The witnesses must write their name, address and occupation. 
  • FORM LOCO21 – Statutory declaration for an adult
    • Form LOCO21 is completed and signed by a person who is not related to you by blood or marriage, must be a British citizen, must be a resident in the UK, a homeowner, and they must have known you for over 10 years. This person is called the declarant. A solicitor, commissioner of oaths, or a senior court officer must also sign the form as well. They may charge you a fee for this. If the applicant does not know anyone for 10 years or over to act as the declarant, they must attach an additional affidavit and explain the reasons why. 
    • The declarant will need to write their full name, address and occupation in the first three boxes at the top of the form. 
    • They will then have to tick the box as to their citizenship and then write the address where they reside.
    • The declarant will then need to write how long they have known the applicant and write the new name and old name of the applicant. 
    • The next section will ask the declarant to declare that the applicant has shown them the necessary documents (also called exhibits). These documents must have the name of the applicant the documents. The declarant must do this for each document/exhibit (please see ‘What are exhibits and what must be exhibited to the statutory declaration on page 3 of pack LOCO19) These documents are –
      • Exhibit A is a copy of the deed poll (form LOCO20)
      • Exhibit B is evidence of British citizenship such as a birth certificate/passport/certificate of naturalisation.  
      • Exhibit C is your marriage certificate if applicable.
    • The declarant must sign the form in the presence of a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or an officer of the senior court. The solicitor may charge a fee.
  • FORM LOCO25 – Notice for the London Gazette for an adult
    • You will need to write the date of the deed poll in the box at the top of the form.
    • You must then write your new name and your address in the space provided. 
    • You must then give your status and citizenship. You must tick the relevant box. 
    • You will then be asked to write your old name and new name in the spaces provided.
    • Please date the form and give your solicitor details is you have one. 
  • You cannot send your forms in by email. They have to be sent by post or hand delivered.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK/DOWNLOAD IT?

Please click on the link below to download LOCO19 deed poll pack from the government website. LOCO19 deed poll pack contains forms LOCO20, LOCO21 and LOCO25. However, you can download these individually from the government website as well. Please complete and send by post (signed for recorded delivery).

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR PACK LOCO19

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM LOCO20

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM LOCO21

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM LOCO25.

WHEN WAS LOCO19 DEED POLL PACK FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

LOCO19 deed poll pack was first published by the government (HM Courts & Tribunals Service) on 01-06-2015 and last updated on 01-05-2024.