Name change letter – Example 4
Parent with parental responsibility is absent
(either the absent parent’s whereabouts is not known or you are the mother with good reason for not wanting to contacting an absent father)
This page has three example letters:
- Letter 4a template is for an absent father whose whereabouts is not known. If you haven’t already done so, please read section 6 of our article about changing a child’s name. Click here (opens new window) to see section 6.
- Letter 4b template is for an absent father whose whereabouts is known but you have good reason for not wanting to contact the father. If you haven’t already done so, please read section 7 of our article about changing a child’s name. Click here (opens new window) to see section 7.
- Letter 4c template is for an absent mother whose whereabouts is not known. If you haven’t already done so, please read section 8 of our article about changing a child’s name. Click here (opens new window) to see section 8.
Please use the appropriate example letter to explain your situation. The example letters contains the minimum amount of information we require. Your letter cannot be too long and you should include all information that may be relevant.
If you are changing more than one child’s name, please provide a separate letter for each child.
Information about the ways you can send your letter of consent to us can be found at the bottom of this page.
If you have Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2002, 2003 or 2007 on your computer, you can download an interactive Word template (of Letter 4.1) that will make it easy to produce your letter of consent.
Look out for this download icon at the bottom of the letter template
If you do not have Word, please copy and paste the template text into your word processor.
Letter 4a template
(absent father – whereabouts is not known)
[Your home address]
[Your daytime telephone number]
[Date]
To whom it may concern.
Dear Sirs,
I, the undersigned, having parental responsibility for [insert child’s current full name here] consent to [his/her] name being changed to [insert new full name here].
I am unable to obtain the father’s consent because for the last four years I have not known his whereabouts. I have written to the father’s last known address but I have not had a reply. I have also contacted several relatives but they do not know his whereabouts either. The Child Support Agency have also been unable to locate him.
Since the father left us in July 2009, he has had very little contact with us. I understand he moved away from the area in 2011 and since then we have had no contact whatsoever. He pays no maintenance and does not even send his child birthday or Christmas cards.
My child is now old enough to understand the situation and is very distressed at having to use the name of someone who has, for many years, shown no interest in [him/her] whatsoever.
Note: This last paragraph is only suitable if your child is old enough to understand the situation (age 6 or 7 upwards) and is upset with having to use the father’s surname.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature] [Your full name] Mother
Click on the icon to download an interactive Word document for this letter
(click on the Open button if a File Download window opens).
Fully completed example of Letter 4a
Letter 4b template
(absent father – good reason for not contacting)
[Your home address]
[Your daytime telephone number]
[Date]
To whom it may concern.
Dear Sirs,
I, the undersigned, having parental responsibility for [insert child’s current full name here] consent to [his/her] name being changed to [insert new full name here].
Although I know the whereabouts of the father, I have good reason for not contacting him for his consent. Since 2009, the father has been very abusive and violent towards my [son/daughter] and me. As a result, we left the father in April 2011 and have not told him where we live for fear of him contacting us and being subject to his violent and abusive acts.
I did report to incidents to the police and have crime reference numbers. Social services are also aware of the situation and a no-contact order was issued by [name of court] on [date].
My child is old enough to understand the situation and is very distressed at having to use the name of someone who has been very violent and abusive toward [him/her].
Note: This last paragraph is only suitable if your child is old enough to understand the situation (age 6 or 7 upwards) and is upset with having to use the father’s surname.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature] [Your full name] Mother
Fully completed example of Letter 4b
Letter 4c template
(absent mother – whereabouts is not known)
[Your home address]
[Your daytime telephone number]
[Date]
To whom it may concern.
Dear Sirs,
I, the undersigned, having parental responsibility for [insert child’s current full name here] consent to [his/her] name being changed to [insert new full name here].
I am unable to obtain the mother’s consent because for the last six years I have not known her whereabouts. I have written to the mother’s last known address but I have not had a reply. I have also contacted several relatives but they do not know her whereabouts either.
Since the mother left us in July 2009, she has had very little contact with us. I understand she moved away from the area in 2011 and since then we have had no contact whatsoever. She does not even send her child birthday or Christmas cards.
My child is now old enough to understand the situation and is very distressed at having to use the name of someone who has, for many years, shown no interest in [him/her] whatsoever.
Note: This last paragraph is only suitable if your child is old enough to understand the situation (age 6 or 7 upwards) and is upset with having to use the mother’s surname.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature] [Your full name] Father
Where to send your signed letter of consent
Please send your signed letter of consent to us using one of the following methods:
1. Fax to 0333 444 8486 (+44 333 444 8486 from overseas).
2. Scan your signed letter and email to loc@deedpoll.org.uk
3. Post to either of the addresses below.
Please note, if you are paying by cheque or postal order, or claiming a fee reduction for receiving a qualifying benefit, we suggest you do not fax or email your letter but enclose it with your payment and/or benefit evidence.
Freepost address
(if posting in the UK)
Using our Freepost address costs nothing but it takes about 3 working days to reach us. If you want your letter to arrive sooner, or if you are overseas, use the address below
Full postal address
Use this address if you want your letter to arrive sooner or if you are posting from overseas. Don’t forget to affix the correct postage
