Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reason the age at which a person can change their name by enrolling at the Royal Courts of Justice is different from that at which they can do so by deed poll.

Individuals aged 16 years or more can change their name by deed poll. The deed may be enrolled at the Central Office of the Supreme Court provided that the application for enrolment satisfies the requirements of the Enrolment of Deeds (Change of Name) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

For individuals aged between 16 and 18, the regulations require that the application for enrolment may have to completed by a person with parental responsibility for the individual and supported by evidence of the agreement of other persons with parental responsibility to the change of name. This enables the court to be satisfied that the relevant persons with parental responsibility are content with the proposed change of name.