Land Registry Change of Name: Do You Need an ID1 Form?

Changed your name and want your house deeds to match? The good news is that HM Land Registry does not charge for this. However, whether you need an ID1 form depends on how your name changed.

In short, a marriage or civil partnership certificate is usually enough on its own. But if you changed your name by deed poll, you will normally need an ID1 as well. This guide explains each case, what to send and how to apply.

How your name changed	Main evidence	ID1 needed?
Marriage or civil partnership	Your certificate	No
Divorce, going back to an earlier name	Your final order, sometimes with your marriage certificate	No, unless you also need a deed poll
Deed poll	Your deed poll	Yes, if you apply without a conveyancer
Statutory declaration or statement of truth	The declaration or statement	Yes, if you apply without a conveyancer

Your title deeds are now the register

Most homes in England and Wales are registered with HM Land Registry. So the official record of who owns your home is the register, not a paper deed. Therefore, changing the name on your deeds really means updating the register.

You do this with form AP1. There is no fee, so you write “nil” in the fee panel. You also send original or certified copies of the documents that link your new name to your old one.

Your old name will still appear on documents filed before the change. That is normal. If your home has never been registered, the process is different. Our guide to first registration of unregistered land explains it.

Changing your name after marriage or civil partnership

This is the simplest case. You send form AP1 with your marriage or civil partnership certificate. HM Land Registry accepts the original or a certified copy.

You do not need an ID1 form for this. That is because the certificate itself links your old and new names. Also, you do not have to update the register straight away. Still, it is easier to do it now than in the middle of a sale.

Going back to an earlier name after divorce

Again, you use form AP1 and send your final order. This used to be called a decree absolute. However, the order only works on its own in one case. It must show both your original and married names, and the case must have been in your original name.

If it does not, add your marriage or civil partnership certificate as well. Alternatively, a conveyancer can certify the change. And if you are taking a name that appears on neither document, you will need a deed poll instead. That brings in the ID1 rules below.

Changing your name by deed poll

This is where an ID1 form comes in. HM Land Registry’s Practice Guide 67 covers it in section 6.3. It asks for evidence of identity when a name change relies on a deed poll, statutory declaration or statement of truth.

So if you apply without a conveyancer, you send:

• form AP1, with “nil” as the fee
• your deed poll, statutory declaration or statement of truth, as an original or certified copy
• a completed ID1 form in your new name, plus form ID5 if you were verified by video
• a copy of an official document in your former name, such as an old passport, driving licence or utility bill

On the other hand, a conveyancer who handles the whole application can give HM Land Registry a certificate instead of an ID1. In addition, the rule covers a name change sent on its own. If it goes in with another application, such as a transfer, the identity rules for that application apply.

ID1, ID3 and ID5: which form applies?

Most people use form ID1. A solicitor, licensed conveyancer or another professional on the form’s list completes it. Our guide to who can verify an ID1 sets out the full list.

Since May 2025, section 6.3 also mentions form ID3. That form is for when someone who is not a conveyancer verifies your identity. Our guide to form ID3 explains that route.

With us, a solicitor verifies you by video call. As a result, you get a completed ID1 form plus form ID5, which records that the check was done by video. You then send both with your AP1.

Do you need a solicitor to change your name on deeds?

No. You can send form AP1 yourself, and HM Land Registry charges nothing. However, if you use a deed poll, you still need a professional to verify your identity on form ID1.

That check does not have to be done by your own solicitor, or in person. Instead, our online ID1 form verification is a video call with an SRA-regulated solicitor. Each ID1 verification is a fixed £79 per person, which includes the ID5 video verification. Customers living overseas pay £99.

What to have ready for your video call

Your ID1 is completed in your new name. So the documents you show the solicitor should be in your new name too. Have your deed poll to hand as well, because it shows the link between your names.

Most people use a passport or photocard driving licence. If yours is still in your old name, contact us before you book. That way, we can check which of your documents will work. Our guide to the documents you need for an ID1 lists every option.

If you have a mortgage

You do not need your lender’s permission to update your name on the register. Even so, tell your lender separately, so its records match. After all, a name change does not change who owns the home or who owes the mortgage.

A name change is not a change of owner

Adding or removing an owner is a transfer, not a change of name. For example, putting a new spouse on the deeds needs a transfer deed, usually form TR1. Each owner taking part may then need their identity checked. Our transfer of equity guide explains how that works.

If an owner has died

Updating the deeds after a death is not a change of name either. Instead, what you do depends on how the home was owned. Our guide to changing house deeds after death explains each route.

How long does a change of name take?

HM Land Registry does not give a fixed time for name changes. So check its current processing times on GOV.UK. Meanwhile, if anything is missing, it will write to you. This is called a requisition, and it can add weeks. Our guide to rejected or requisitioned ID1 forms explains how to avoid one.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an ID1 form to change my name on the Land Registry?

Only if your name change relies on a deed poll, statutory declaration or statement of truth, and you apply without a conveyancer. A marriage or civil partnership certificate does not need one.

How much does it cost to change your name on house deeds?

HM Land Registry charges nothing for a change of name. If you need an ID1, each ID1 verification is a fixed £79 per person, which includes the ID5 video verification. Customers living overseas pay £99.

Do I have to change my name on the Land Registry after marriage?

No, there is no deadline. However, names need to match when you sell or remortgage. So updating the register early can help you avoid delays later.

Can I change my name on the Land Registry without a solicitor?

Yes. You can send form AP1 yourself. But if you use a deed poll, statutory declaration or statement of truth, a professional must verify you on form ID1.

Can I change my name on the Land Registry online?

Conveyancers can apply online through HM Land Registry’s portal. If you apply yourself, you usually send form AP1 and your documents by post.

What if my passport is still in my old name?

Contact us before you book. Your ID1 is completed in your new name, so we will check which of your documents will work.

Do I need to tell my mortgage lender?

You do not need your lender’s permission to update the register. However, you should tell your lender separately so its records match.

Can I add my husband or wife to the deeds at the same time?

Not through a change of name. Adding an owner is a transfer, usually on form TR1, and it has its own identity checks.

How long does a change of name take?

HM Land Registry does not give a fixed time. Check its current processing times on GOV.UK, and send everything at once to avoid delays.

For other situations, browse all our ID1 guides.