I was wondering how to legally change ones name, uk, i was

Hello and thank you for your question. My name is ***** ***** I will be very pleased to assist you. I'm a practising lawyer in England with over 15 years’ experience. Please be aware that although I will endeavour to reply to you promptly, I am also in full time private practice and so I may not be available to respond immediately and it may also take me a few minutes to prepare a reply. The site will notify you as soon as I respond. I look forward to working with you to answer your question fully.

May I confirm if you are seeking to change your name following marriage or divorce please?

1. thank you. So the position is usually wish to change your name out of choice?
2. do you also wish to change your name in respect of any official documentation such as a driving licence or passport or change your name on a bank account?

thank you. typically, the simplest approach for changing your  name in this regard would be by way of a deed poll which is a relatively simple document expressing your wish to change your name and setting out the name you are disclaiming and the new name you are adopting.

Such a document will allow you to subsequently apply for a new driving licence or passport as applicable and once you have obtained one or the other of the above, you can usually use this as a basis to subsequently change your name another account such as bank accounts and so on.

You can either instruct a local solicitor in respect of preparing a deed poll alternatively, you can use an online service such as the following is an example:

https://www.deedpoll.org.uk/

in terms of actually signing the deed poll, this is usually very quick and can be done in the matter of days if you use an online service such as the above or even the same day if you use a solicitor.

Obvious, from there, obtaining the documents normally be a slower process. Particular for example obtaining a new passport may take some time as the service is relatively stretched at present as you may have read in the news. If you are planning to travel in the next few months, you may wish to delay until after you have travelled so as not to potentially be left without a passport at a time you need it.

I'm glad the above answers all your questions for now. If you have any follow up questions please revert to me.