Certificate Of One And The Same Person Template for England and Wales

A Certificate of One and the Same Person, often searched for as a one and the same person affidavit, is a document usually made as a statutory declaration that lets you formally confirm that different versions of your name all refer to you as the same individual. It gives banks, HM Land Registry, probate registries and other officials a clear written record when name variations across your documents would otherwise cause a discrepancy in England and Wales.

What is a one and the same certificate?

A one and the same certificate (sometimes called a same person certificate, a one and the same person affidavit, or simply a certificate of one and the same person) is a signed statement in which you declare that names such as a maiden and married name, an anglicised and original spelling, or a shortened and full first name all belong to you. In England and Wales it is typically drawn up as a statutory declaration and signed in front of a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary, who witnesses your signature. It sits alongside related identity documents such as a deed poll when you need to evidence a name change or link records together.

Is a one and the same person affidavit the same as this certificate?

For most readers, yes. The affidavit and the certificate describe the same thing, a formal statement that two or more different names refer to one person. The difference is the format. An affidavit is sworn on oath, while in England and Wales the equivalent document is normally a statutory declaration. Whichever term an official or institution uses, this template produces the written confirmation they are asking for, so you can inform the bank, registry or employer that the records refer to the same individual.

When do you need this document?

You'll need this certificate whenever a bank, government office, employer or legal entity asks for proof that different names belong to the same person. Common situations include:

• Your passport or bank records show a different name from your other supporting documents.
• You are transferring or registering property and the title, deed or ID show different name formats.
• You are dealing with probate and the deceased or beneficiary is recorded under more than one name.
• You have changed your name through marriage, divorce, deed poll or by adopting an anglicised spelling.
• Immigration, visa or international business paperwork records slight spelling variations of your name.
• A utility provider, income or pension record, or an institution opening a new account lists your name differently from your ID.

How do I complete and use the certificate?

Fill in your full legal name, list every name variation, and state clearly that each one refers to you. Gather supporting evidence such as a passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, utility bill or deed poll, then sign the declaration in front of a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary who will witness and date it. Keep the original safe, as the institution asking for it (for example a bank, HM Land Registry or a probate officer) may want to see or retain a copy. If you are dealing with an overseas authority, ask whether they need the document legalised or apostilled before you submit it.

How do I create this certificate online?

You can complete the whole process from home. Open the template, answer the guided questions to add each name variation, then download and print the finished document ready to sign in front of a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary. There is no need to instruct an advocate to draft it from scratch. If a name discrepancy is holding up a property purchase, a probate matter or a new bank account, having the certificate ready keeps the wider project moving.

What does a one and the same certificate look like?

A worked example: Priya Sharma holds a passport in the name "Priya Sharma", a degree certificate reading "Priya S. Sharma" and a bank account opened as "Priya Kaur Sharma". Her declaration would state: "I, Priya Kaur Sharma, of [address], do solemnly and sincerely declare that the names Priya Sharma, Priya S. Sharma and Priya Kaur Sharma refer to one and the same person, namely myself." She then signs and dates it before a solicitor, who adds their name and details as witness. The finished document can then be handed to the bank or registry that asked for it.

How is this different from an affidavit format?

In England and Wales the same declaration is normally made as a statutory declaration under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835 rather than a sworn affidavit. The affidavit format is common in other jurisdictions. In India, for instance, a same person affidavit is often sworn on non-judicial stamp paper (with the value set by the relevant state, such as Maharashtra or Kerala) and requires the statement to be made on oath. A statutory declaration carries the same weight for most administrative and banking purposes here and is the format you'll usually be asked for in England and Wales.

Why does the institution want to verify your name?

When a name appears differently across documents, the organisation receiving them has to verify that every record refers to one person before it can act. A bank guarding against fraud, a registry protecting title, or an employer confirming a right to work all need that link made in writing. The certificate is the document they refer to when the names in front of them don't match exactly, and it sets out specifically which variations belong to you so there is no ambiguity. Your supporting evidence stays private between you and the institution you give it to; nothing is published.

Common questions about this affidavit

A few points come up often when people request this document:

• How many name variations can I include? List every version that appears on your records, each one named in full.
• Does the certificate need a specific wording? It must identify you and state that each listed name refers to the same person; the template handles the standard wording for you.
• Who can witness it? A solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary in England and Wales.
• Is it the same as a deed poll? No. A deed poll changes your name going forward, while this certificate confirms that existing name variations already refer to you.