I am getting married abroad and have been told that my Deed Poll must be legalised. What is legalising and what do I need to do?
Legalising is the process of confirming that certain UK documents are genuine so that they can be accepted for use abroad. This process is carried out by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in Milton Keynes.
Documents have to be signed by a solicitor, so if you have not yet had your Deed Poll witnessed, sign it in the presence of a solicitor and then he or she can act as your witness.
On your Deed Poll the solicitor should write the phrase ‘I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of this document’, and then they should print their full name and the name of their firm underneath their signature.
The solicitor is likely to charge around £10 for this service, but do confirm their charges in advance.
Your birth certificate will also need legalising if you are marrying abroad, and some other documents may also be required. The requirements vary from country to country so check with the relevant foreign embassy click here, and also check with the tour operator organising your wedding.
Your documents should then be taken or posted to the Foreign and Commonwealth office who will confirm that the solicitor’s signature is genuine, and attach a legalisation certificate (apostille) to each document.
For full details and fees please contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legalisation Dept on 01908 29 51 11 or for the FCO website click here
See also...
- Why do people change their name by Deed Poll?
- Is a Statutory Declaration the same as a Deed Poll?
- Will my change of name be centrally registered somewhere?
- Can a person with a criminal record change their name by Deed Poll?
- Can I use my maiden name as a middle name after I am married?
- I am getting married abroad and have been told that my Deed Poll must be legalised. What is legalising and what do I need to do?
- I am not a British citizen but I live in the UK. Can I use a Deed Poll to change my name?
- Can I use photocopies of my Deed Poll to have my personal records amended, rather than sending out the original?
- What forms of payment does The Name Change Company accept?
- How do I contact The Name Change Company?
- How do I change the name in my UK passport?
- How many organisations will I need to tell about my new name?
- Can I just phone or email people and tell them my name has changed?
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