Statutory Declarations for Change of Name

Hibberts offers expert advice and assistance in relation to clients seeking to change their own name or their child’s name.

Adult clients can change their name by 2 ways, by change of name deed or by statutory declaration. The difference between a statutory declaration and a change of name deed is that a change of name deed can be witnessed by any person over the age of 18 whereas a statutory declaration is a document sworn before a Solicitor. In our experience, a statutory declaration can be more readily accepted by the Passport Office than a change of name deed, which may be beneficial to clients.

For clients seeking to change the name of a child under the age of 16, this may also be done by statutory declaration or change of name deed. However, to change the child’s name, there must be consent by all persons who have parental responsibility for the child or leave of the Court. Persons may have parental responsibility by for example, being the child’s parent (adopted or biological), being named on the child’s birth certificate, by being identified as the child’s guardian etcetera.

Our Specialist Team offers a fixed-fee appointment to all clients seeking statutory declarations for change of name, and this fixed-fee includes the following: –

• Drafting the statutory declaration
• Having a 30 to 45 minute in-person consultation with one of our Team to discuss the meanings and implications of the statutory declaration
• Providing the original statutory declaration as well as certified copies

Please note that we also offer the service of drafting a consent letter to be sent to a person with parental responsibility over a child, however this will not be included in a fixed fee.

Our Family Law Department offers a fixed-fee initial appointment to all new clients.

Please telephone the office to speak to our Family Law Department  on 01270 624225 or email enquiries@hibberts.com for further information.