About Legal Deed Polls

Why Change your Name with Us?

Legal Deed Polls was created in 2014 by Mark Keenan, CEO of Online Legal Services Limited, who brought the legal expertise and document-creation technology he’d already proven at Divorce-Online — the fixed-fee online divorce service he founded from his living room in Swindon in 1999, and has since grown into a business that has helped over 200,000 clients, saved customers more than £200 million in legal fees, and earned over 5,000 Trustpilot reviews along the way.

“The current crop of deed poll providers are small one-man bands masquerading as large companies — often just a couple of people working from home,” says Mark. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but we wanted to bring the same dedicated legal team to the deed poll market that we built for divorce, so your document is correct and delivered on time.”

To be clear, we are not a government agency, and there is no official certificate that needs to be filed — a deed poll is a legal document, not something issued by the government.

We don’t spend large amounts of money paying celebrities to promote us. Those costs get passed on to the customer, and we’d rather keep our pricing straightforward instead.

Our unique selling point is simple: the same product you’d get anywhere else, at a lower price, backed by the same legal team and secure ordering process behind Divorce-Online’s 25+ years in UK legal services.

The People behind legal Deed polls

Mark Keenan is the founder and CEO of Online Legal Services Limited, the parent company of Legal Deed Polls, Divorce-Online, and OLS Solicitors. He founded Divorce-Online in 1999 and has spent over 25 years building fixed-fee, digital-first legal services in the UK, including the 2017 acquisition of OLS Solicitors to bring reserved legal services in-house. He was shortlisted for the South West Leadership Awards 2025 (Professional Services category) for his contribution to legal tech innovational services.

He is supported by a strong team of paralegals headed by Stuart May assisted by Nicki Matthews, Laura Stephens, Victoria Wheaton and Olivia Keenan.

Why choose Legal Deed polls!

• Every document is drafted by a paralegal and independently double-checked by a second paralegal before it’s signed and sealed.
• Transparent, flat pricing from £15.99 including VAT — we don’t pay celebrities to advertise for us, so you’re not paying for that either.
• Part of the Online Legal Services Group, trading in UK legal services since [1999/2000], with over 6,000+ deed polls issued since we launched this service in 2014.

Our Deed Poll Services

● Adult Deed Poll Service — change your legal adult name.
● Child Deed Poll Service — change a child’s name with the correct consents.
● Replacement Deed Poll Service — order a certified copy of a deed poll you’ve lost, typically within [1-5] working days.

How it works

1. Complete our secure online form as part of checkout.
2. Pay securely by credit/debit card or PayPal.
3. Receive an email confirming your order details.
4. One of our paralegals drafts your document; a second paralegal checks it.
5. The deed poll is printed, sealed, and signed by a paralegal.
6. It’s sent to your address by post typically within 1 working days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of name can you choose?

Under English and Welsh law you can choose almost any name you like by deed poll, provided you are not trying to defraud, deceive, or evade a legal obligation (for example, avoiding a court order or debt). You cannot choose a name that is offensive, includes numbers or symbols, or misrepresents your title, rank, or qualifications. If you’re unsure whether your chosen name is acceptable, call us on 01793 384033 before ordering.

Is there an offical deed poll office in England and Wales?

No. This is a common misconception — there is no government department or official “deed poll office” that issues these documents. A deed poll is a legally binding document that can be drafted by a solicitor, a specialist provider like Legal Deed Polls, or by yourself using a template. Choosing a provider like us simply means your document is checked by qualified paralegals before it’s signed and sealed.

How long will it take to change my name?

Your deed poll is drafted, signed, and posted within 1 working days of payment, arriving by 1st class post. Processing does not include time for the organisations you notify afterwards (such as the Passport Office or DVLA) to update their own records.

How much does a deed poll cost?

Our standard adult deed poll costs £15.99 including VAT, which includes one original document. Additional certified copies can be added at checkout if you need extra originals to send to different organisations (for example, your bank and your employer) at the same time.

What other costs will there be to change my name?

Organisations you notify after receiving your deed poll — such as the Passport Office, DVLA, or your bank — may charge their own fees to update your records (for example, a new passport application fee). Legal Deed Polls has no control over these third-party costs; we recommend checking each organisation’s website for its current fee before applying.

Do I really need a deed poll?

Not always. If you’re taking your spouse’s surname after marriage or civil partnership, most UK organisations will accept your marriage certificate instead of a deed poll. A deed poll is generally needed for any other name change, including reverting to a previous name after divorce, changing a child’s name, or choosing a completely new name. See our “Do you need a deed poll“page for a full breakdown by situation.