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**PurplePrincess** · Advisor Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 2678 Location: Bristol

A friend of mine advised me that I should get my deed poll witnessed by a solicitor. I know it isn't necessary but she said that otherwise some people might not accept it. It sounds like a good idea but is it really going to make much difference? I'm only asking because I don't have much spare time to see a solicitor at the moment.

Also a friend of mine that has agreed to be my witness if I want is currently unemployed and there is a line on the deed poll saying witnesses occupation. Is it really a good idea to have a witness that is unemployed? Really I think it ought to make no difference but there are probably people here that are much wiser than me having done this before so I just wanted to know what you think.

Thanks.

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Scaeme · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject:

I know for driving licenses, passports and the like, they want you to have a witness who's occupation is that of one off a list they have. It's got stuff on there like solicitor, priest, police officer, etc
I dont know if that applies to deed polls or not

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**PurplePrincess** · Advisor Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 2678 Location: Bristol

The witness doesn't have to be a certain occupation, I'm just asking whether it's a bad idea to have an unemployed witness.

Copied from the information supplied to me by UK Deed Poll Service who prepared my deed poll:

Important notes about the witness

* The witness must be 18 years of age
* The witness must know you but be independent of you (e.g. not a partner or relative, not have the same surname and not live at the same address).
* The witness must be able to speak and read English.
* The witness must watch you sign your Deed Poll document and then sign.

A suitable witness would be, for example, a friend, neighbour or work colleague.

So after reading these notes it does seem over the top to see a solicitor and it does say on their website that you don't need a solictor and they guarrantee that it will be accepted everywhere, passports and driving licences included.

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wild_flower · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:28 pm Post subject:

PurplePrincess wrote:

The witness doesn't have to be a certain occupation, I'm just asking whether it's a bad idea to have an unemployed witness.

I'm no expert, but, I don't see why it is a bad idea. As long as they comply with what you wrote above, there signature should be as good as anybody elses. Anyway, how will the people you'll be show the document to know? Smile

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**Alan314159** · Advisor Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 389

wild_flower wrote:

how will the people you'll be show the document to know? Smile

Because you have to write it on the deed poll. I was wondering the exact same thing, because I was going to have one of my friends from uni do it, whose occupation is "student". I emailed the Deed Poll people who sent me the pack - I was worried it would look like I went down the pub with some mates and decided to change my name for a laugh - and they said a student was an acceptable witness.
I don't see why someone who's unemployed would be any different.

**Reenie** · Reporter Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3577 Location: Glasgow

Alan314159 wrote:

I was worried it would look like I went down the pub with some mates and decided to change my name for a laugh...

...precisely what your Auntie Reenie did, and my deed poll on change of name has been accepted everywhere.

Reenie's deed poll template can be had from

http://www.bujman.com/share_it/deedpollsample.doc

for free.

Fill in the gaps, take it down the pub and, er, have a laugh...

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**Reenie** · Reporter Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3577 Location: Glasgow

...oh yeah,...

I ran it past my mate Dan who's a Cambridge law graduate and he said "can't fault it, sounds water-tight to me". Sure, pay some suit if you must...

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