Guernsey - Change Your Name (Deed Poll)

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Procedure

• Obtain all necessary documents in applying for the change of name.
• Submit your application along with all other requirements.
• Once the new name or surname is accepted, you may proceed in registering your new name.

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Required Documents

• Certificate of Criminal Record
• Request Addressed to the Minister of Justice
• Application addressed to the Registrar
• Identity Card (original and photocopy)

Office Locations & Contacts

The Royal Court House
St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2NZ, Channel Islands
Tel: 44 1481 725277
Royal Court contacts

Eligibility

Changing your surname in Guernsey is relatively easy provided that you are 18 or over and you follow the correct procedure. The general rule is that subject to certain exceptions, you can change your surname to whatever you want, provided of course that it is not done for the purposes of fraud or deception of any kind.

Fees

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Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

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Instructions

• It is possible to legally change your or your minor child's name by Deed Poll.
• The Deed Poll document must be prepared by an Advocate and presented in Court.
• The Register of Deed Polls (from 1947) is available for inspection in the Strong Room at the Greffe.

Required Information

• Your name as listed on birth certificate or immigration or citizenship documents.
• The full name you are applying to change to (if you are changing your name).
• Date and place of birth
• Marital status and details
• Places of residence for last three months
• Address for Correspondence

Need for the Document

If you are using, or wish to use, a name other than your registered name, there is no legal requirement that you formally change your name. It is, however, recommended that you change your name officially, both for identification and as evidence of your name change.

Name change generally refers to the legal act by a person of adopting a name different from their name at birth, marriage or adoption. The procedures and ease of a name change vary between jurisdictions.

Information which might help

Her Majesty's Greffier is the Registrar-General of births, deaths and marriages and is authorised to licence and supervise civil marriages.

The Registry team at the Greffe undertake a wide variety of duties, including:

• Maintaining a record of all births in Guernsey and providing birth certificates
• Maintaining a record of all deaths in Guernsey, after examining the associated certification, and providing death certificates
• Liaising with the Law Officers of the Crown whenever the circumstances of a death suggest that further enquiries may be necessary
• Liaising with the Director of Public Health, hospitals and other health professionals to ensure that all births and deaths are promptly declared
• Interviewing couples planning to marry and advising them on the associated requirements
• Conducting civil marriages, either at the Court Building, at St James Concert and Assembly Hall, in private residences or at any Church or Chapel

The Registry is open to the public on weekdays between 9am and 4pm.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

You may want to change your name because:

• You have just gotten married
• You have divorced
• You just want a change
• In case of adoption

External Links

The States of Guernsey

Royal Court - Deed Polls

Royal Court Home Page

Others

How you should go about changing your name will depend upon which category you fit into. Changing your name after marriage or divorce is quite a simple process, while changing your name 'just because' requires a little more effort, but it is still quite straight forward and a lot easier than it used to be.

To change your name, submit a petition to your local Superior Court that details the reasons you'd like to change your name. After the court approves your request, you'll then need to update your Social Security card, driver's license and passport.