We need a deed poll to change our name, but where do we get one in Singapore? At the lawyer’s. I’m not sure if every legal firm provides the service/document, but there are three firms that definitely do.
They’ve created websites that tell us the prices, answer questions, and to handle the initial information gathering.
Really quickly, the three companies are:
- Bonsai Law Corporation
- I.R.B. Law LLP
- Deed Poll Lawyer – Change Your Name in Singapore From $40 SGD (irblaw.com.sg)
- Online Deed Poll Submission Form Singapore – IRB Law LLP
- Over 21
- $40 if we apply and pay online first,
- $60 if we apply online and pay in person,
- $130 if we walk in without an appointment.
- Under 21
- $70 if we apply and pay online first,
- $90 if we apply online and pay in person,
- $160 if we walk in without an appointment.
- Over 21
- Loh Eben Ong LLP
- Deed Poll – Name Change in Singapore by Singapore Lawyers
- Deed Poll Online for Change of Name by Singapore Lawyers
- Singapore Deed Poll Quote for Name Change – LAW.com.sg
- $50 for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents
- $100 for everyone else
Which lawyer to go to for a deed poll?
I’ve been to Loh Eben Ong LLP for a deed poll.
The process starts online, at Deed Poll Online for Change of Name by Singapore Lawyers, where they ask for a lot of information, and then (if I remember correctly), we set an appointment date and time.
I remember the online system logging all of the information, and after the submission, the details remained on the screen, with no option to clear/remove them. I was able to go back to the same webpage and see all the details, and when I got a friend to visit the site, they could see all my details too. That was… disconcerting.
When I visited their office (135 Middle Road, #05-11, Bylands Building), the staff seemed to be stressed out. The lady I met was rushing to print, check, and give instructions. She was quick and professional. I was impressed, and she wasn’t even the lawyer.
Then I met the lawyer.
He… gave me the impression that I was a waste of time. I had questions, and I didn’t feel like I was able to ask them. I was also distracted by his… grooming. The lack thereof.
When I left, I was happy that I could change my name, and happy to be out of his room.
Now that I’m changing my name again, I’m not going back.
Between:
- Bonsai Law Corporation and I.R.B. Law LLP,
- $50 vs $40,
- 1 North Bridge Road, High Street Centre vs 119 Jalan Sultan.
I initially chose I.R.B. Law LLP because they listed a number of addresses all over the island, and one of their offices is pretty close. Heading to Online Deed Poll Submission Form Singapore – IRB Law LLP, I filled in the form… and then found out that the Jalan Sultan address was the only listed option.
Dang!
Between Bonsai’s North Bridge Road and I.R.B,’s Jalan Sultan, my mom (who’s coming with me) is a lot more familiar with North Bridge Road, and it’s less walking (important for us). So we’re picking Bonsai Law Corporation.
Typing this as I apply online…
At Bonsai Law Corporation…
Starting here at Deed Poll Singapore | Hire Affordable Deed Poll Lawyers — Deed Poll Singapore.
I pick a date and time, and press [ Continue > ].
Then I fill in my information:
- Name
- Phone number
- Email address
- FULL NAME (I’m not yelling, they’re asking for capital letters)
- FULL NEW NAME
- ADDRESS
- They also ask to upload an image of my NRIC, but the javascript doesn’t engage so I can’t. 🙂
- (That and the lack of an SSL certificate on their website is… disturbing…)
Oh well.
[ Complete Appointment > ]
I see a confirmation of date and time, and the option to edit the form I just filled. (I try to upload my NRIC again but the button doesn’t fire up the uploader.)
I refresh the page and am glad to see my information is erased from public view. My time slot is also taken off the form. That’s good.
And now I just wait for the day and get there on time!
(Later)
I receive an email confirming the appointment, and another closer to the date.
Someone also called on the day itself, to confirm the afternoon appointment.
Woah.
(Even later)
An A+ experience!
I highly recommend getting a deed poll at Bonsai Law Corporation.
The staff — from the lady we met (Hi Danielle!) and the actual lawyer (Hello Shen Han!) — were pleasant, friendly, and professional. They took the time to explain what’s going on and answered our questions.
They explained the differences between adding an English name, a Mandarin name, and the hanyu pinyin name (because we asked), and how it would matter when filling in official documents.
In a private meeting room, there was time to calmly look through the details they printed.
When Shen Han came in, he made sure to explain that we’re changing our name with this deed poll, and we that should apply for a new NRIC with it in 28 days.
The environment was so positive I was finally able to ask: “What happens if I change my mind and don’t want to change my name officially?”
Answer: If we change our mind, we simply do nothing. After 28 days, if we want to change our name, we can come back to Bonsai for a new deed poll (for the same new name, no charge).
Danielle even had a conversation with us about passports. She’d been trying to get through to the ICA to ask if we can travel with a new name but the old passport, especially now when passports are taking more than a month to come out, and though she’s been calling at different times every day, she’s had no response, always getting the answering machine.
I felt no rush, I had all the questions answered, and I feel like I went to an actual lawyer’s office. I’d totally recommend getting a deed poll from Bonsai Law Corporation.
Here are their links again:
- Deed Poll, Change of Name Singapore – Bonsai Law Corporation (Bonsai’s website)
- Deed Poll Singapore | Hire Affordable Deed Poll Lawyers — Deed Poll Singapore (they started a website dedicated to deed polls)
Use either one, it leads to the same process.
💕🌧️
Image of a tiny bonsai tree
(I know bonsai are small but this is tiny!)
by Ilona Ilyés from Pixabay.
P.s. Mom believes that High Street Centre used to be known as Columbo/Columbo Court, and if it was, then it’s where my parents brought me, 32 years ago, to get my birth certificate. I can’t find that info on the internet, but it would be cool if it’s true.
