In Jamaica today anyone aged eighteen (18) and over can be known by any name they choose just by simply using it. However, a name does not mean it is legally yours. Should you wish to change your name and get all your documents changed, e.g. passport, property, deeds and records such as Income Tax, NIS, Bank Accounts, Credit cards etc., A Deed Poll will provide the evidence that you have changed your name.
A Deed Poll is a drafted document that someone’s birth and marriage certificate, sometimes both, decree absolute, adoption certificate or a certificate of citizenship enables him/her to abandon a name or names and assume another of their choice.
Services offered:-
Express Service - Same day
Seven Days – 2 weeks
Ordinary Service - 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of services
Express Service - $9,030.00
7 days Service - $7,030.00
Ordinary Service - $6,030.00
Recording Fee Birth only Birth & Marriage
Express (next day-paid
Before 11:00 a.m.) $2030 $2140
Seven Days pick-up $1030 $1140
Ordinary (4-6 wks pick-up) $530 $640
The stamped document attached with the relevant certificate or certificates must be taken to any of the Registrar General’s Department Office Island wide for an assessment and recording at the Island Record Office.
An assessment of a Deed Poll is done by a credit officer who ensures that these requirements are met, the following steps are:
1. Party’s name before Deed Poll
Party’s name after Deed Poll
Certified copy of Birth, Marriage or both, Decree Absolute, Adoption certificate and Certificate of Citizenship depending on the case.
Date of execution.
Signature of parties (Grantor and Justice of the Peace/Notary Public)
Seal of signatory (Justice of the Peace/Notary Public)
Stamp duty paid within 14 days of execution date. Documents that are not stamped within the prescribed period will attract a penalty.
Stamp duties are assessed as follows:
Stamp is $500.00 penalty on late stamp is calculated at 5% per annum + $10.00.
2. Assessing of the Documents
Documents are calculated at $110 per legal sheet. A legal sheet consists of 160 words and figures.
The method used for calculating the number of words and figures that appear on a document is to add all the words that appear in one line of the document and multiply this by the number of lines that appear on the document. This total figure is then divided by the legal sheet (160 words) this would then give you the total number of sheets on the documents. If the remaining balance is less than eighty (80) words it is considered a 1/2 sheet if it is more than eighty (80) words it is considered one (1) sheet.
3. Writing the Assessment
The Assessment figure is then written on the last page of the document after the Justice of the Peace’s signature. This should be done legibly at the bottom right hand corner of the document. Assessment should include:
Sheetage - 51/2 sheets @ $110 = $ 605.00
Deed Receipt $ 200.00
Express $1,500.00 (Optional)
Total $2,305.00
The document can be drafted by a Lawyer or at any of the Registrar General’s Department Office Island wide. The document becomes legal when the draft is signed in the presence of the Justice of the Peace by the declarant and the said Justice of the Peace affixed his signature and seal, if by a Notary Public his signature and stamp.
The applicant should then take the document to the nearest Taxpayer Audit and Assessment Department, (Stamp Office), and pay stamp duty of $500.00, these offices are located at:
111 Harbour Street, Kingston,
7 Windsor Avenue, May Pen, Clarendon and
18b
, Montego Bay, St. James.
The Customer will receive a certified document recording the name change with the original certificate (s) attached.
A person may change their name for various reasons, religion, race, culture or if a person was not registered in the biological father’s name. The mother or father must sign a Deed Pool on behalf of a minor (Child under 18 years old). A letter of permission is required if one is acting on behalf of the person conducting the Deed Poll.
The Registrar General’s Department does not draft Deed Poll in the following cases:-
· Date, Place and Parish of Birth
· Paternity of a child, for example, if father’s particulars are already entered on a child’s record, the child’s surname cannot be changed to someone else’s.
· Mother changing father’s name on child’s record, for example, if a child was registered without the father’s information entered on the record, a status is recommended before a deed poll can be done.
Child’s status, for example, if a child was born in wedlock, a deed poll cannot change that and vice versa.
Did you know that one of our founding fathers of politics in Jamaica and National Hero changed his name by way of Deed Poll?
William Alexander Clarke born 1884 changed his name in 1944 to Alexander Bustamante; also one of our former Prime Ministers changed his name from Percival James to Percival James Patterson.
A Deed Poll provides legal documentary evidence required so that everyone you have dealings with must change their record without question.