Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any limit on the number of occasions that an individual can register a change of name by enrolled deed poll; and if not, what assessment they have made of the implications for (1) national security, (2) the work of the police, and (3) money laundering.

There is no limit to the number of times a person can change their name by the enrolled deed poll process. This is consistent with long stablished common law rights for people to change their name and the European Convention of Human Rights. Changing a name for a deceptive or fraudulent purpose could however be prosecuted as part of the underlying fraud or deception.

Upon enrolment the deed is advertised in the London Gazette by the High Court providing a searchable public record of enrolled deed name changes. As such, the Government does not believe there are any grounds for concerns relating to national security, the work of the police or money laundering arising from the process.