This is just a general comment on changing ones name in UK. It may help those with a problem which seems to occur quite often when names are mis-spelt on documents.
In UK it is not legal to change ones name (there is no law which says one can) but it is also not illegal (no law to say one cannot) so in reality one can change their name. The only proviso is that it must not be done for an unlawful reason, for example: to commit a fraud etc.
It can be done by Statutory Declaration (on oath before a magistrate) Deed Poll or Common Law. The effect is the same in all cases but some professional bodies prefer one method over another. Accountants need to use Statutory Declaration and then register the changed with Deed Poll, serving police offices can do it by common law alone, etc. etc.
Under common law one just says as of today I am (new name/s) Frederick Fish. Then one notifies all the authorities of the new name. To change the passport requires a note from the type of person who can certify a passport application form (Lawyer, clergyman, police officer etc) to the effect that they they have known John Brown for 5 years and as of 1st June 2008 he has changed his name to Frederick Fish. The new passport then has just the new name with no reference to the original one.
