Renfrewshire Council

Who can apply for a change to forename or surname

Any person whose birth is registered in Scotland, or who was legally adopted in Scotland, can apply to record a change to forenames or surnames.

If you are over 16 years of age, you can apply or a change to your forename or surname yourself.

A change of name for child under 16 years can only be done by:

• a parent who has sole parental responsibilities for the child
• both parents when both have parental responsibilities for the child
• another person who has responsibilities for the child when neither parent does.

You can read the full details about recording changes of forename or surnames in Scotland [162KB] .

Changes to birth certificates

Any birth certificate issued after the recording of the change of forename or surname will show the new forename and surname with the original forename and surname shown separately.

This does not apply to an application for the recording or change of forename for a child under 12 months of age.

Who needs to sign the application form

If the parents of a child were married at the time of the birth, or married after the birth, then both parents:

• have parental responsibilities for the child
• should usually sign the application form.

Where the parents of a child are not married but both parents registered or re-registered the child's birth after 4 May 2006, both parents

• have parental responsibilities for the child
• should usually sign the application form.

If the parents are unmarried or only the mother's details appear on the birth entry, then you should include a parental responsibilities form [26KB] with the application.

How to apply

If the child is under 12 months of age, complete the:

• Application for recording or changing their forename (Form 21)
• Application for recording or changing their surname (Form 23)

If the child is over 12 months of age and under 16 years, complete the:

• Application for recording or changing their forename or surname (Form 23)

If the person is over 16 years, complete the:

• Application for recording or changing their forename or surname (Form 24)

The National Records of Scotland do not accept digital applications. You will need to complete and sign your form in ink and return it, with your payment, to:

Change of Name Team
National Records for Scotland
New Register House
Edinburgh
EH1 3YT

How much it costs

The cos for recording a change of name is £40.

For family applications the fee is

• £40 for the first family member
• £10 for every other family member applied for at the same time.

A birth certificate costs £15.

An abbreviated birth certificate costs £15.

For two full and abbreviated certificates ordered at the same time costs £25.

If you're paying by cheque or postal order, it should be crossed and made payable to The Registrar General.

Delays to applications

If there is a delay in processing your applications, it may be due to:

• insufficient fees for the cost of the application
• the absence of the signatures of both parents of the child where the parents of a child were married at the time of the child's conception
• the absence of signatures of both parents, where the parents of the child have never married but where both parents registered or re-registered the child's birth on or after 4 May 2006
• the absence of a parental responsibilities form where the parents of a child have never married and the mother has sole parental responsibilities
• a form not signed or dated
• completion of the wrong from
• wrong payee on the cheque.

You can find out more about changing your name on the National Records of Scotland website.