Process of Changing the Name for Minors

Contrary to popular belief, changing your name isn’t as complicated as some make it out to be. Yes, it’s not exactly a walk in the park either, but if you keep a few things in mind, and make sure you’re okay with all the restrictions and regulations that are in place, you shouldn’t have any issues.

That being said, things are a bit different for minors. While persons who are of age can do these things by themselves, when you’re a minor it’s usually required that your parents make some of these decisions for you.

In order to understand the difference between changing your name, and changing your name as a minor, we’ll go through the name change process briefly. We’ll discuss who can change their name, how, and what extra steps must be done with minors.

 How Do You Change Your Name?

Most people’s first train of thought would be altering their name certificate. However, this isn’t the right approach. First things first, a name certificate can’t be altered. It’s considered a historical document that was factually true at the moment of creation, and as such, it must remain unaltered. You could add a note that explains certain changes to it, but that’s about it.

So, how is this done? For example, how to change your name in Scotland? Or anywhere else in the UK? Well, with a deed poll, of course. Changing your name by deed poll is a simple and efficient way to go about this.

A deed poll is a legal document that proves you went through with a change of name. With it, you can change the spelling, you can add or remove hyphens or names, or you can change any part of your name. You could go for an unenrolled deed poll, and make it yourself, or apply for an enrolled deed poll. An unenrolled one requires that you’re 16 or over. With an enrolled deed roll, which means you are putting your new name on public record, you must be 18 or older.

Now, the thing with a deed poll is the exact thing we just mentioned – there’s an age restriction. This makes it tricky for minors, but fear not, as it is still possible.

 How Can a Minor Change Their Name?

There are two things that you’ll need if you want to change your minor child’s name. You will either need everyone with parental responsibility to agree, or you will need a court order. Note, however, that this applies when a child is under 16 years old. Minors who are 16 and 17 years old can use an adult deed poll to change their own name.

In the first case, you will have to download certain forms that you are to complete. There is also a notification form for The Gazette here, and you will need to pay a fee of 36 pounds. Once this is all done, you just send your paperwork to the Queen’s Bench Division.

In the second case, you will need to make an application to the court. This includes a form, C100, that is for a specific issue order. Then, send that form to the nearest court that deals with child cases. Note that unlike the situation earlier, a court order costs 215 pounds to apply for. If you’re on benefits, or a low income, you might be able to get some help with court fees.

Wrapping Things up

In any case, changing your name as a minor is quite a lot trickier than doing so as an adult. When you’re an adult, you are allowed to make these decisions on your own, without needing a parent’s signature. And when it comes to changing your name, you could do that if you’re 16 or 17 years old, but anything less, and things become complicated. You need all people with parental responsibility to agree and sign, and if that’s impossible to achieve, you’ll need a court order that’s pricey. In any case, if you do have a valid reason to do this, you can still proceed and change your name.

This is a collaborative post.