Who can be a witness

When you change your name by deed poll in Northern Ireland, you need to sign it in front of 2 witnesses.

Your deed poll is not legally valid until you and your witnesses have signed it.

Who can be a witness

Your witnesses must:

• be 18 or over
• know you personally
• be with you when you sign

Who cannot be a witness

Your witnesses cannot be:

• close relatives, such as your parents, brothers or sisters, children, spouse or partner
• anyone who lives at the same address as you

What your witnesses do

Your witnesses watch you sign your deed poll. They then sign it themselves and add their full name and address, including their postcode.

By signing, they confirm that they saw you sign. They are not confirming your identity or approving your new name. They do not need to know why you are changing your name.

Signing your deed poll

You can sign your deed poll as soon as you receive it. Make sure both witnesses are with you before you sign, as they must see you sign it.

After you sign

Once you and your witnesses have signed, your name is legally changed. There is nothing else to send or register.

Keep your deed poll somewhere safe. Organisations will ask to see it when you update your name. Find out more about who to tell.

Witnesses for a child deed poll

The same rules apply to a child deed poll. Everyone with parental responsibility signs it in front of 2 witnesses, who then sign it too.

Apply for a deed poll

It costs £25 to apply for a deed poll with the NI Deed Poll Office. You can pay by debit or credit card.