.UK registrant and contact details
Update the right record without changing domain ownership by mistake
The legal registrant is the person or organisation the .UK domain is registered to. The domain contact is the name and contact information used to manage it. Change the legal registrant through Nominet. Update the domain contact through the UKC Client Portal.
What is the difference between the legal registrant and domain contact?
These records are related, but they serve different purposes and changing one does not necessarily update the other.
| Record | What it means | Normal update route |
|---|---|---|
| Legal registrant | The person or legal organisation the .UK domain is registered to. A completely new holder is a change of registrant. | Nominet Online Services |
| Domain contact | The contact name, email address, telephone number and postal address used for the domain record and important notices. | UKC Client Portal |
| UKC account profile | Your customer account and billing details. These are not automatically the same as every individual domain record. | UKC Client Portal account settings |
How to update the legal registrant of a .UK domain
Use this route to correct the name of the existing registrant. If the domain is moving to somebody else, follow the ownership-transfer note below instead.
- 1Sign in to Nominet
Open Nominet Online Services and use the email address registered against the domain.
- 2Open the domain
Find the .UK domain and select the arrow beside it to view the registrant and contact sections.
- 3Edit the registrant
Select Edit under Registrant. Correct the legal name, registrant type, trading name or company number as required, and explain why the record needs changing.
- 4Submit the change
Select Update details. Nominet may request identification and manually approve a registrant-name change.
How to update the domain contact in UKC
Use this route when the contact name, email address, telephone number or postal address changes but the legal registrant remains the same.
- 1Open My Domains
Sign in to the UKC Client Portal and go to Domains, then My Domains.
- 2Select the domain
Choose the exact domain you want to update, then open Contact Information.
- 3Enter the current details
Update the contact name, email address, telephone number and postal address. Use an email address you can access even if the domain’s own email stops working.
- 4Save and check for email
Save the changes and complete any confirmation or verification message that follows. Reopen the domain to confirm the details were stored.
Common questions
Does this guide apply to .com and other non-UK domains?
No. The Nominet steps apply to domains ending in .uk, including .co.uk and .org.uk. Other extensions use their own registry and registrar processes. Use the UKC Client Portal or ask UKC Support for the correct route.
Can Nominet also update contact details?
Yes. Nominet recommends using your registrar first, so UKC customers should normally update the domain contact in the UKC Client Portal. If you make an urgent contact change directly through Nominet, update UKC as well so both records remain consistent.
What if I cannot sign in to Nominet?
Use the email address currently registered against the domain to set or reset the Nominet Online Services password. If you cannot access that address, contact UKC Support before starting a paid identity-recovery process.
Will changing these details affect my website or email?
A contact correction should not change DNS, hosting or mail settings. A registrant transfer changes the legal holder, so agree separately who should control the UKC account, billing, website, DNS and email.
Keep both records accurate
Update the holder through Nominet and the contact through UKC
If you are unsure whether the change is a correction or a transfer to a new legal holder, ask UKC before submitting it.