Do I have the right to change my children's surname without applying to do it by deedpoll. Currently my children have there fathers surname, however they refer to themselves by my surname, he does have PR and would not allow them to use my name if I asked him. They have no contact with him and have not seen him for almost 3yrs (his choice!) the children do not wish to continue using his name however I don't seem to be able to find out if I can do this until they are of an age where they can legally change there names themselves. Please advice.

Please tell us where you are at?? Since here in TN, USA I have no idea what a deedpool is, it is nothing we do for a name change.

And since the rules from Canada, to the US to India to Ireland or Iceland all differ and we have people from all those places here, it will help to know which law you want to know about.

As Chuck pointed out where you reside has a bearing. In the US one can use any name they want as long as there is no intent to defraud. So, there is no problem in the US.