Procedure for Name Change in India

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Procedure for Name Change in India

First of all, we discuss here the common reasons because of which people wish to change his / her name. Followings are some of the reasons why a person may want to change his / her name:

Reasons / Grounds for name change:

  • After marriage a woman wishes to adopt husband’s surname.
  • After divorce a woman wishes to remove husband’s surname.
  • Because of the adoption of a child.
  • Because of conversion and change in religion.
  • Numerology or astrology.
  • For changing or adopting any other surname.
  • Because of dislike the current name.
  • Because of change of gender.
  • For correction in the name due to typographical or any other mistakes / error in the name.
  • Any other sufficient reasons.  

Affidavit for Name Change:

A person wishes to change his / her name legally is required to prepare an affidavit on the appropriate value of stamp paper in the prescribed format by mentioning his existing name, new name, father or husband’s name, residential address, ID proof number like aadhar number or PAN number, reason for changing the name etc. The affidavit should be signed by the applicant and attested by the notary public or oath commissioner.  

Advertisement in newspapers:

A person wishes to change his / her name legally is required to publish in the newspapers an advertisement for public notice for the name change. The name change advertisement should be published in one English daily and one in regional language newspaper widely circulated in the district in which he / she resides. The advertisement should include the old name, new name, residential address, and date and place where the affidavit was made.

Submission of documents with the Department of Publication, Govt of India:

After preparing affidavit and advertisement in the newspapers, an application or request letter should be submitted with the Department of Publication, Government of India along with the affidavit, newspaper advertisements, ID and address proof of the applicant preferably aadhar card, two colour passport size photographs, and requisite fees.  

Gazette Notification:

Upon receipt of the application along with the necessary documents and fees, the concerned officer of the Department of Publication will check the documents and if found it correct, send them for notification to the Government of India Press. Thereafter, it will be notified and published in the official gazette of India. Please note that the publication in the official gazette of India usually takes 45 days from the receipt of the application for name change.

Retention of the copies for future reference:

If you have applied and changed your name, it is suggested to keep a copy of the affidavit, newspaper advertisements and gazette notification for name change with you for future reference.

Once it is published in the gazette of India your name change procedure is complete and based on that, you can apply for updating your new name in your IDs, bank accounts and / or wherever you wish to update your new name.    

If anyone needs any kind of help or legal advice on this issue or in general, please feel free to contact me at any time. My Number is 9818865693 and email is adv.jeetkumarsingh@gmail.com

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