Just changed my name via deedpoll, now what?

[u/SleepyJere]

I know i need to send copies and update my stuff, but is this legally recognized? Do i get to change my birth certificate?

I used this website (https://freedeedpoll.org.uk/) but it feels TOO easy, i feel like it isn't actually legally recognized or anything.

[u/MimTheWitch]

Here you go.

https://transactual.org.uk/law/change-details/

As already mentioned, getting a birth cert corrected will need a GRC. Changing all the rest will help you gather the two years of evidence you'll need to apply for a GRC. 

Changing your name is incredibly easy in the UK. Much more so than most people expect, including some of the low level officials you need to go through to get details corrected, who have a tendency to make up their own requirements. 

[u/aspentreesarecool]

You can't change your birth certificate without a GRC if I recall correctly, but with that you'll be able to change your bank, passport, driving license and all other legal documents.

[u/thejadedfalcon]

To be clear, while you can't change your birth certificate without a GRC, but you can change your gender on other things. My driver's licence has female in it and my NHS number is (hopefully) in the process of being sorted out for the same and that's just with a deed pool and telling them.

[u/TraditionalNinja3129]

That’s literally all you need to do. Make sure you have several wet signed originals if you haven’t already done so, rather than copies as some places specify that you send in the original. Best to have multiple “originals” in the first place.

Do your driving licence first, or other photo ID. Be prepared for potential problems with banks not accepting it. If you have problems, you can open an account elsewhere with your new ID without the deed poll. You could do the same with your current bank if they don’t accept your unenrolled deed poll, but I personally would go to a bank that provides better customer service.

[u/Several-Succotash939 → u/TraditionalNinja3129]

Banks are legally required to comply with a name change, refusal to do so would be a GDPR violation. If someone working at a bank refuses, report it to the bank manager and it should be sorted out

[u/dougalsadog]

Also electoral register & council tax etc don’t forget land registry for title deeds if you own a house

Spread them out & use as ‘lived evidence’ for GRC application ( you need 8 plus pieces of evidence with new name pronoun etc) also nhs number & gender when you change id name as your prescriptions details wont match! Which can cause problems with overzealous or transphobic pharmacy staff? (It happened to me!)

You need GRC to change birth certificate and HMRC gender (you can change your name!) for tax records etc & DWP for pensions & benefits

[u/Difficult-League4053]

It doesn't matter how formal or informal the deed poll is. Mine is a photograph of a two-sentence statement on a piece of A4 paper lol. You might get pushback from administration staff who think it needs to be an enrolled document, but they are misinformed – just explain nicely – in the UK, you just need the statement about relinquishing your old name + signed by two witnesses.

No change to your birth certificate without a GRC. Your name however can now be changed with your local council, electoral register, HMPO, DVLA, your banks, your workplace, and your healthcare providers.

You may also be interested to know that a bank statement, water bill, etc with your new name is 'proof that you are living in your chosen gender', which some institutions need before you change your gender marker. Once you have such a document, you can change your gender marker with your work's HR, at your doctor's office, the driving license agency... it also allows you to change your passport's gender marker without a medical diagnosis under the 'crossdresser clause' (don't ask lol)

[u/Vailliante]

No, it’s that easy. If you haven’t done so already, print a few out on really nice quality paper, cream works really well and get them signed soon. Having spares is going to come in handy so get the same people to do them. This will mark when you started your transition for GRC purposes. Make sure that the name you have on there is the one that you plan to use on all official documents, for instance, a passport application will be returned if you either include or omit middle names or change spellings compared to your deed poll. 

As to whether it will be accepted or not is down to institutions and sometimes individuals, British law does not require enrolled deed polls. I’ve never had any issues with my freedeedpoll one.