What is a Statutory Declaration?

A Statutory Declaration is a document that contains a written statement of fact that is signed in the presence of:

•  A Solicitor
•  A Notary of the Public
•  A Justice of the Peace 
•  A Commissioner for Oaths 
•  A Councillor (Scotland only. Documents on or after 10/12/07) 

Under the provisions of section 81 of the Solicitors Act 1974, solicitors in England and Wales who hold a current practising certificate have the same powers as a Commissioner for Oaths for the purposes of authenticating a Statutory Declaration name change document.

For name change purposes the Statutory Declaration document will be accepted providing that the statutory declaration has been signed in the new name. Statutory Declaration documents must be signed just with the new name.