Changed name by deedpoll. Document lost.

[Waaii]

My relative changed his name to his step-fathers name on the day when his mother re-married. He was a small child then and his birth certificate is in his old name.
Now more than 30 years later he wants to apply for a passport and to have the deed.
The solicitors who made the arrangements no longer have any information on file.
Obviously he knows the date and the town of registrar.
The original documents seem to have been lost.
Where is it possible to obtain a copy of this deed, can anyone help?
Do you know what can be done as he wants a passport asap. Thanks.

[Oneeyedvic]

All thought the passport website states that he needs the deed: http://www.passport.gov.uk/passport_first_name change.asp
I am fairly sure that this is a regular occurrence.

I would suggest giving them a call and explaining the situation to them. There phone number (24hours) is: 0870 521 0410

[Waaii]

Thanks,useful. But he still needs to know how to get a copy of this document for a number of reasons. can anyone help?

[Oneeyedvic]

I don't actually think you can.

I had this when I got married. I changed my name a number of years ago and couldn't find the document- it turned out that I didn't actually need it for the marriage they just put both my previous name and current name on the certificate.

[Carol Anne]

This happened recently in my family. The fact of matter is that deeds poll are never officially recorded or registered any where. The 'original 'could be lost as is the case here, but any solicitor could produce a fresh one, to be signed by new witnesses, and this, along wih a letter of explanation will be good enough for the passport office, as my cousin would affirm. Having lived a lifetime so far,with the changed name it is unlikely the document would have to be produced again.