Who Scottish Trans is#
Scottish Trans is a project of the Equality Network, a Scottish LGBTI equality and human rights charity (registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator as SC037852, and a company limited by guarantee). The project works to improve trans equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland through research, policy work, training and community support, and it says it is grateful for funding from the Scottish Government. It is not a casework or helpline service; its published guides do most of the helping.
Getting in touch with the project#
The contact page gives an email address and the project's Edinburgh postal address. For a one-off question about your own documents, the change of name page will usually answer it faster than an email.
What it says about changing your name in Scotland#
The page starts from the position in Scottish law: anyone may be known by a different name at any time, change their title, forename or surname, add names or reorder them, and there is no set legal procedure to follow. You can simply start using the new name. It points out that people exploring their identity often use a different name informally among friends first, and that it is legal to have some documents in each name as long as you are not defrauding anyone.
For the formal step, when a passport office or bank wants written evidence, it recommends a statutory declaration as the easiest and cheapest method:
- a solicitor, notary public or other court officer who can administer an oath must witness you signing it;
- with a solicitor or notary the cost should be under ten pounds;
- with a Justice of the Peace at your local court it is free, though there may be a wait of a few weeks, and you book through the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service;
- ask for several certified photocopies, because many organisations want to see the original.
It offers a free Word template, "Statutory Declaration for Change of Name (Over 16s)". For a child under 16, it says only someone with parental responsibilities can change the name, and if more than one person has them, they must all agree or a court must give permission. It then links to HM Passport Office's guidance for trans customers and DVLA's licence page for updating documents.
How it fits with the other routes#
Scottish Trans's page does not discuss deed polls, but they are not the only alternative. Citizens Advice Scotland lists three formal routes for people in Scotland: recording the change with National Records of Scotland (open to people born or adopted there, and placed on a public register), a statutory declaration, or a deed poll. A deed poll works for people born or living in Scotland in the same way as elsewhere in the UK, and needs ordinary adult witnesses rather than a solicitor or JP. The statutory declaration's advantage is that a JP witnesses it free; the deed poll's is that you can sign it the same day.
Scotland in the handbook#
- How to change your name in Scotland: all three routes side by side.
- Statutory declaration of name change: who can take one, and who accepts it.
- Changing a child's name in Scotland: parental responsibilities and the sheriff court.
- Charities for trans and non-binary people: LGBT Youth Scotland and others.
This page describes what Scottish Trans publishes on its own website, read on 26 October 2026. Scottish Trans has not reviewed it, and listing a charity here does not mean it recommends this handbook or any deed poll service.
