In many cases, you can change your title without a deed poll. Titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms are not actually part of your legal name, so changing between them doesn’t require a formal change of name. In fact, a deed poll is specifically used to change your name, rather than your title. GOV.UK states that a deed poll cannot be used to change titles such as Mr, Mrs, Sir, Lady or Doctor. You can read the GOV.UK guidance on changing your name by deed poll for further information about what a deed poll can and cannot be used for.
Changing Between Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms
If you simply want to use a different everyday title, you can generally start doing so. You don’t need to have married or divorced to change from Miss to Ms or Mrs, for example. You may then want to update the title held by organisations you deal with, such as:
- Your bank or building society
- Your employer
- Utility companies
- Your GP or dentist
- Insurance providers
- Other businesses where you hold an account
Once you have decided to change your details, our guide to notifying organisations of a name change explains which organisations you may need to contact.
What About Other Titles?
This is where things can be different. Professional, academic and honorary titles may come with their own rules. You cannot simply use a deed poll to give yourself a title such as Doctor, Sir or Lady. Passport guidance, for example, distinguishes ordinary titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms from other titles that may require additional checks. If you are changing your actual first name, middle name or surname as well as your title, that is a separate matter. A deed poll can provide evidence of that name change.
The HM Passport Office guidance on titles explains how titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms are recorded on UK passports and how other titles are treated.
So, if you simply prefer Ms to Miss or want to use Mrs, you generally don’t need a deed poll just to make that change.
Read more information on children’s deed polls, combining surnames and how deed polls work.
For help changing your name via Deed Poll, contact DeedPoll.com on 020 8017 2216.
