New Policy For Deed Poll Name Changes
On the 30th of October 2007 the Identity & Passport Service (IPS) announced a fundamental change in the way they deal with passport applications for people aged 16 and 17. The changes affect the right of 16 and 17 year olds to change their name by Deed Poll without parental consent.
The main changes which will come into effect on the 10th day of December 2007 are as follows:
- 16 and 17 year olds will no longer need to seek parental consent when applying for a passport. The only exception to this is in cases where a court order requires it or the young person has a mental disability.
- When a 16 or 17 year old applies for a passport in a different name to the one on their birth certificate (e.g. they have changed their name by Deed Poll) the Identity & Passport Service will no longer require a supporting letter from a parent consenting to the name change taking place.
The new policy announced by the IPS has an impact on the way in which we issue adult Deed Polls to 16 and 17 year olds. Previously we were unable to offer our usual guarantee that a Deed Poll issued by us would be accepted by all government departments, companies and organisations within the UK because of the old IPS procedure for name changes whereas now we can offer our younger clients the same guarantee that their name change will be accepted by everyone in the UK as is their legal right.
For more information on this new policy announcement by the Identity & Passport Service please visit their Changes to passport rules for young people press release.
