Last Year, 90,000 People Became Someone New - This Year They Can do It in Less Than Two Hours

Shropshire, United Kingdom, March 31, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Changing names by Deed Poll is something people have been doing since 1760. And now, with the launch of their new website and the introduction of a new 120-minute online service, the Legal Deed Poll Service anticipates that even more people will be queuing up to change their name.

So what makes someone want to change their name by Deed Poll? Traditionally, applications have come from people wishing to ‘double-barrel’ their surname on marriage – or separated women wishing to revert back to their maiden name and / or change their children’s surname. People of foreign extraction may wish to "anglicise" their name or make it easier to pronounce while others change their name when they change religion. Additionally, thousands of people change their name from an unfitting name given at birth.

Some people change their name to a "fun name" or a famous name. Christine Hamilton, the wife of the former conservative MP, legally changed her name using the online service to "Mrs British Battleaxe." Also, as any school-age young boy named Tracey will attest, having an unfitting name is not the surest route to popularity in the playground. In 1930 a man from the tough American mid-west with the embarrassing name of "Marion Morrison" changed his name and became the epitome of ruggedness and masculinity that made him an enduring icon. He became better known as John Wayne. In the future, according to Eric Schmidt CEO of Google, we can expect to see a surge in applications as today’s social networking obsessed teenagers reach adulthood and wish to sever themselves from an embarrassing or even "dodgy" online past.

Legally, you can change your name by Deed Poll whenever and as often as you wish – and these days it can be inexpensive, straightforward and quick. “With the Legal Deed Poll Service, you’re just three simple steps away from becoming someone new,” according to Miranda O’Hara, Senior Deed Poll Officer. “First you submit a simple application form online via the website. Then we send you a draft Deed Poll for approval. Finally the change of name becomes legally binding once the Deed Poll is signed in the presence of a non-relative witness, for example, a friend, neighbour or work colleague. At this stage you can officially amend records held by government departments and other organisations – documents like your passport, bank account, credit card, driving licence and so on. Practically the only document you can’t change is your birth certificate because it’s an historical record that was correct at the time of your birth.”

Michael Birch, a friend of the Legal Deed Poll Service and the founder of the social-networking site Bebo, which he sold to AOL for £415 million, dropped in on the launch of the Legal Deed Polls’ new website and said: “The Legal Deed Poll Service takes something that would appear to be very complex and leads you through it step by step. They go out of their way to provide the help that's needed. Now all I need is to think up a new name for myself!"

So anyone wanting a new identity can log onto www.TheLegalDeedPollService.org.uk, enter their details, and become someone new in less than two hours.

For more details please call Tina Clough, Media Liaison Officer on 0330 660 0478. Calls are charged at standard/local rates.

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