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How do I change my child's surname?

For parents and guardians who want to change the surname of a child under 18.

Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

To change a child's surname you need the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility, or a court order, and then a deed poll.

  • You can make an unenrolled deed poll through a specialist deed poll agency or a solicitor.
  • Or you can enrol a deed poll with the High Court, which costs £53.05.
  • If someone with parental responsibility does not agree, you can apply to court for a specific issue order on form C100, which costs £263.
  • A child aged 16 or 17 must send a letter saying they agree.

Different in Scotland

  • There are different rules if the child was born in Scotland, so check National Records of Scotland.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

  • Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
  • Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

  • Everyone with parental responsibility agrees
  • Enrolled deed poll: £53.05
  • Court order (form C100): £263
  • 16 and 17 year olds must agree

First, get agreement

Before you do anything else, you need the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility for the child. Parental responsibility means the legal rights and duties of a parent.

If they will not agree, you must try to reach agreement before you go to court.

Choose your type of deed poll

A deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. There are two kinds.

TypeHow you get itCost on GOV.UK
Unenrolled deed pollThrough a specialist deed poll agency or a solicitorSet by the agency or solicitor
Enrolled deed pollEnrol it with the High Court£53.05

Some organisations will only accept an enrolled deed poll to change their records, so ask the organisations you need to tell (such as a bank) what they accept.

If your child is 16 or 17, they can choose to make their own unenrolled deed poll.

Steps to enrol a deed poll for a child

  1. Fill in form LOC022 to enrol a deed poll to change a child's name.
  2. Fill in form LOC023, an affidavit (sworn statement) saying the change is in the child's best interest.
  3. Fill in form LOC024, a statutory declaration for changing a child's name.
  4. Use form LOC028 as a cover sheet for your supporting documents.
  5. Include a copy of the child's full birth certificate, and adoption papers if they were adopted. You may also need proof of your marital status.
  6. If your child is 16 or 17, include a letter from them saying they agree.
  7. Apply online, or post everything with the £53.05 fee to: Deed Poll Office, King's Bench Division, Room E15, The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL. Online, you pay by debit or credit card.

If someone with parental responsibility says no

You can ask the court to decide. Fill in form C100 to apply for a "specific issue order" and send it to your local family court. The court fee is £263.

Time and cost at a glance

RouteFee
Enrol a deed poll with the High Court£53.05
Apply for a specific issue order£263

After the name changes

Send a copy of the deed poll to the organisations that hold your child's records. Check with each one first which type of deed poll it accepts.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

There are different rules for changing the name of someone born in Scotland. GOV.UK points you to National Records of Scotland for this. This guide follows the GOV.UK process for England and Wales.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Change a child's name

Common questions

Can I change my child's surname without the other parent's consent?

Only if they do not have parental responsibility, or a court gives you a specific issue order. You must try to reach agreement before applying to court.

Can my 16 year old make their own deed poll?

Yes. If they are 16 or 17 they can choose to make their own unenrolled deed poll.

Official sources

  1. 1.Change a child's name by deed pollwww.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/change-a-childs-name
  2. 2.Change your name by deed poll: overviewwww.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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