Legalising a Deed Poll

What is ‘Legalising a Deed Poll’?

If somebody needs to use their Deed Poll document abroad it is likely that the foreign country will require the Deed Poll to be ‘legalised’. This is a process by which the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirms the authenticity of a legal document. The FCO are usually happy to legalise most UK document provided they bear an original signature, seal, or stamp from a UK public organisation or an official.

However, the FCO state that by legalising a document they are not confirming that its contents are accurate and it does not then carry any sort of official approval by themselves.

How to go about Legalising a Deed Poll

A Deed Poll document needs to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public as being original before it can be legalised. Certification involves the solicitor/notary clearly stating on the deed exactly what it is that they are certifying regarding the document. The Deed Poll must be signed in their own name rather than a company signature. Below the signature, they should print their name and the name of the firm.

Copies of the original Deed Poll can also be legalised provided they have been certified by a UK solicitor or notary public as being true photocopies. However, if a person does decide to legalise a copy of their Deed Poll, they should check that the foreign country they are seeking recognition from will accept a photocopy. Be certain to follow any requirements for how the photocopy must be sized or printed. For example, in some instances only a certified colour copy will be accepted.

The signed Deed Poll should then be sent of to the FCO. This can be done either by post or by visiting their public counter in Milton Keynes. They will check the signature and if it is accepted, they will then attach an apostille (the legal term for the legalisation certificate) to confirm that it is genuine.

How much will it all cost?

Applying for a Deed Poll document will cost £19 for an adult and £21 for a child. The cost for having a solicitor certify your Deed Poll can vary hugely from approximately £10 up to £50 depending on the firm so it is worth receiving several quotes. The FCO will then charge for their service at £30 (July 2020) per document.