Changing your name: a checklist on who to inform

There are three main ways to legally change your name:

• changing your last name to your partner’s last name or adding their name to make a double-barrelled surname after marriage or civil partnership,
• changing back to your previous last name after divorce or dissolution, or
• getting a deed poll certificate.

A deed poll certificate is a legal document to prove that you’ve changed the name you go by. There are rules about what your new name can be, check the GOV.UK site for more information about deed pollOpens in a new window

You might have to change your name by deed poll if you are getting married or divorced and you want to change your name in any other way. This could be because you want to combine your surname with your partner’s or want to change your first or middle name as well as your last name.

Most organisations will want you to submit some sort of certificate to prove your name change. Some will allow you to send them a scan or photograph, but others will ask you to send in or show them the actual hard copy.

If you’re changing your name because of marriage or civil partnership, you’ll need your marriage or civil partnership certificate. If your wedding is in the UK this will be posted to you in the weeks after your legal ceremony. You can pay £12.50 for extra certified copies when you book your ceremony with the council.

After a divorce or dissolution, you can use your marriage certificate along with your decree absolute, final order or divorce certificate as proof for a name change. You can request another copy from GOV.UKOpens in a new window if you’ve lost your first one.

With a deed poll some organisations will only accept an enrolled deed poll which costs £53.05. Read more about deed pollsOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

Unfortunately, after you change your name, nothing gets updated automatically. You’ll need to tell lots of different financial services, utility companies, and government departments that you’ve changed your name.

You'll need to let them know for your Council Tax and to update the electoral register. 

Find the contact details for your local councilOpens in a new window

Even if you’re not self-employed, it’s important to tell HMRC that your name has changed for future access to benefits and your tax accounts.

HMRC will update the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and your National Insurance details once you’ve told them about the name change. You might need to create a Government Gateway account to do this.

 Find out how to change your name with HMRCOpens in a new window

It’s free to change your name if you have an unexpired driving licence. Pick up a D1 form from your local Post Office and fill it out (this is called a DL1 form in Northern Ireland). You will need to include your current licence, and an original copy of your certificate which they will post back with your new photocard after they’ve changed your name.  

Read more about changing the name on your driving licenceOpens in a new window

If you own a vehicle, you’ll also need to change the name on your V5C vehicle log book.

Find more information on GOV.UK about changing your name on your log bookOpens in a new window

To change your name on your passport, you have to pay for a new 10-year passport.

If you still have a lot of years left on your current passport you might want to wait until it’s about to expire to change your name on it. Remember, you’ll need to book any travel abroad under your previous name if you do this.

Read more about changing your name on your passportOpens in a new window

Paying off or receiving a student loan? Then you will need to update your details with your loan provider.

England: find out how to change your name with the Student Loans Company (SLC)Opens in a new window

Northern Ireland: contact Student Finance NI to change your nameOpens in a new window

Scotland: fill out this change of name formOpens in a new window for SAAS.

Wales: here’s how to change your name with Student Finance WalesOpens in a new window

If you’re in the UK on a visa, you must update UK Visas and Immigration if you change your name. 

Find out how to change your name on your eVisaOpens in a new window

It’s worth creating your own list of every account you have with any of the categories below. You’ll need to check the website for each organisation for how to change your name and what evidence they ask for.

You might have to change your name with the same company more than once if you have two different products with them, for example, a pension and insurance.

Here are the financial institutions you should tell about your name change:

• banks
• building societies
• credit card providers
• loan companies
• car finance
• buy now pay later (BNPL) and catalogue companies
• pension providers
• investment platforms
• mortgage provider
• insurance providers, including car, home, pet, travel, life, critical illness, income protection and health insurance
• breakdown cover
• NS&I (Premium Bonds accounts).

If you’re employed or in education, you should tell your place of work or study about your name change.

Whether you own or rent your home, there are lots of people and companies you need to tell about your name change including your:

• mortgage provider
• HM Land RegistryOpens in a new window if you’re a homeowner
• landlord
• housing association
• water company
• electricity and gas company
• internet provider
• phone company
• TV Licensing
• vets
• subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon etc.

You should tell your GP surgery and dentist about your name change. They will update your NHS records including the NHS app for you, but you might need to tell the hospital separately if you’re having regular appointments there.

You might also want to change your name on your gym membership.

If you have a will, you should update it or create a new one with your new name. This might be especially important if you’ve changed your name because of marriage, civil partnership or divorce/dissolution.

Read more about wills in our article Making a will and planning what to leave. 

You might find it easier if you change your name on your I.D. first. Lots of other places will accept your passport or driving licence as proof of your new name, which can make things simpler.

It’s also important to prioritise changing your name with your bank, place of work and mortgage provider or landlord.

Changing your name on things like your online shopping accounts can be done later.

Copy and paste this list into your phone’s notes app and you can tick them off as you complete them or if they don’t apply to you. You can also download a free PDF of the name change checklistOpens in a new window (PDF, 70KB)

• Council Tax
• electoral register
• HMRC
• driving licence
• vehicle log book
• passport
• student finance
• UK Visas and Immigration
• banks
• building societies
• credit card providers
• loan companies
• car finance
• buy now pay later (BNPL) and catalogue companies
• pension providers
• investment platforms
• mortgage provider
• insurance providers, including car, home, pet, travel, life, critical illness, income protection and health insurance
• breakdown cover
• NS&I (Premium Bonds accounts)
• your employer
• your school, college or university
• HM Land Registry if you’re a homeowner
• landlord
• housing association
• water company
• electricity and gas company
• internet provider
• phone company
• TV Licensing
• vets
• subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon etc.
• GP surgery
• dentist
• gym
• your will
• loyalty cards and online shopping accounts.