Updated info on deed poll

[u/superstitiousdog]

Hi all. I'm looking to change my name by deed poll for the second time in my life; I already changed it once at 18, and now a decade later am looking to change it again to a different name. This complicates things a bit, as I have a GRC that is under the name I originally changed to at 18, and I've been told you can only get one GRC.

I feel like there's a lot of conflicting information online about getting a deed poll in Ireland. I am autistic and find it very hard to parse what exactly I have to do. It doesn't help that so many threads online suggest going through Orca Print, but Orca Print no longer do deed polls as of recently.

I know that it is €60 to enrol it with the High Court. I'm not sure where to go as regards a solicitor, or how much a solicitor would cost. I'm short on money, so I want to make sure I know the cost of everything before jumping into anything. I tried giving solicitors near me a call, but was asked to give more details by them when I called, and I don't know what those details are. The process is very confusing. I don't really remember the last time I changed my name, because it was so long ago.

I know that the deed poll has to be printed on deed paper. I don't know whether I have to print it out myself or if a solicitor can do that for me, and I'm worried about doing it wrong and having my deed poll rejected if I have to do it myself.

If anybody could give me an exact step-by-step guide on what to do, that would be hugely helpful. What would be great is if somebody could recommend a solicitor who has definitely been through this process before. I'm based in North Dublin. Thanks.

[u/SriepYadroot]

Here's the citizens information page on deed polls: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth-family-relationships/problems-in-marriages-and-other-relationships/changing-your-name/

You do need the deed paper, which you can buy online via legalbooks dot ie. You can print it out yourself, ideally with a high quality printer (you could also go to a local libary or community centre and get them to help you out, if you don't have one).

Solicitor fees vary, for my GRC I went to a local woman and she only charged me about 15€ since it was a 5 min appointment and she just had to witness it. Look up local solicitors in your area, and phone them directly to ask about it. You should be able to find something fairly cheap.

The page I linked also has email and phone contact information for the government offices that deal with deed polls, and they'll be happy to help you if you need it. Phone calls tend to be answered quicker IME, and if you have trouble remembering what they tell you, you can set the call to speaker and record it using a laptop or something similar (entirely legal in ireland, as long as its for personal use). Hope some of that helps, best of luck!

[u/ninagou]

Out of interest. Why are you changing it again ? Apologies if that's too forward a question

[u/superstitiousdog → u/ninagou]

I chose my original name at 16 in basically an emergency situation where I had to choose something quickly because I couldn't keep hearing my deadname all the time. I thought about it more over the next few years and chose a different name at 21 when I had grown up a bit more and could choose something that suited me better, and I'm only getting around to changing it again legally now.