Process of changing your name

Online services have permeated every sphere of British life- be it an online resume writing service, an online service for drafting tenancy agreements or a name change deed poll online service. The Plymouth City Council suggests that the modern fabric of British life has led to a surge in the online services including name change deed polls.

Reasons

a) British Society: Social psychologist, Day, states that the British society is slowly becoming mechanized. The society has come to rely on machines and online services. On an average, people spend more than 22 hours at close quarters with an electronic information device. The trend of indulging in face-to-face meetings has absolved. People are now hard-pressed for time. They do not want to spend time in doing a task. Yet, they expect quick results. People expect a rapid response rate when they do spend time performing a task. Day argues that people expect more but are unwilling to give their effort, time and energy.

b) Removal of the Solicitor: Research reveals that more than 49 percent of people in England find the prospect of visiting a solicitor daunting and stressful. People find it easier to do their needful work by themselves or via the Internet. Online name change deed poll services remove the need of a solicitor.

c) Easy and convenient: Online access has made tasks easier. The online service of name change is deemed to be simple and inexpensive. Some online name change services guarantee a name change in less than 42 hours. One of the major online name change deed poll services, ChangingName.co.uk, claims a cost of less than £20 for a name change.

Day states that college graduates patronise online services. In the rushed modern industrial society of today, people find it convenient to just input information. They don’t have to run about and meet legal authorities. Everything is done for them without hassle. They just have to pay. An individual can apply for a name change by phone, fax, online or through post.

d) Less Paperwork: The online name change deed poll service requires minimal legal documentation. The online name change service is built solely on the concept of ‘Trust.’ The service expects people to be honest and forthcoming in their online application forms. The service requires:

Birth Certificate

Passport (the personal details page only)

Marriage Certificate (if married)

These documents are either faxed or a photocopy of each is sent to the online service.

The Process

a) Fill in the Online Application Form – The individual has to fill in the reasons for name change including the type of deed poll required i.e. whether for a child or an adult. The information is then verified and payment has to be made online. Most online name change deed poll services require a deposit of £20 to continue with the process. This deposit amount is later deducted from the total fee.

b) Deed Poll Preparation: The online service prepares the deed poll and sends it within a week. Some online services send the deed poll within four working days.

c) Witness Signature: On receipt, the individual has to get the deed poll signed by a witness. Caution should be exercised that the witness is above the age of 18.

d) Name Change: The individual’s new name is effective once the deed poll has been signed. The individual has to inform any government department, agency and organisation of the deed poll. The individual has to get his/ her name changed on the passport, driving licence and bank documents.

Requirements of Online Name Change Deed Poll

a) Age: When applying online, the individual has to prove beyond a doubt that he/ she is above the age of 18.

b) Cite Valid Cause for Name Change: The individual can only get his/ her name changed if the reasons for it are deemed valid by the online service. More than 66 percent of online name change services consider the following as suitable reasons:

Marriage

Separation

Divorce

Remarriage

Bereavement

Adoption

Foreign Travel

It should be noted that online name change deed poll services seldom accept cases where the individual is not happy with his/ her present name.

c) Nationality and Residency:

A British citizen residing in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland

A British citizen residing in the Channel Islands

A British citizen residing outside the British Isles

Foreign National living in the UK

d) Drawbacks/ Disadvantages:

There is no way to check the validity and truthfulness behind an individual claim. Online name change deed poll services have to accept what is given and shown to them. According to an opinion poll in the British daily, The Guardian, more than 28 percent of name changes occur for fraudulent purposes: