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

A Certificate of One and the Same Person 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 institutions 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 or 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 or commissioner for oaths, 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.

When do you need this document?

You'll need this certificate whenever a bank, government office, employer or legal entity asks for proof that variations of your name 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 a bank order for 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 or commissioner for oaths 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 or commissioner for oaths. 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.

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.