Read this blog to save you some time and trouble in tiresome research. Let’s know in detail how you can apply for a name change in India.
Dale Carnegie once said, “Names are the loveliest and most important sound in any language.” Even though most people detest their names, not everyone would choose to change them. They simply refuse to alter their names throughout their lives because they are either unaware of the options or believe the process will be time-consuming and laborious. However, the name change process is actually not that difficult.
In India, numerology and Vaastu are widely popular, and after marriage, it’s normal for women from various communities to change their first and last names. Other factors for changing the name include divorce, social or political background, gender change name, personality change, etc. The steps one must take to alter their name are explained in detail here.
What Is The Process To Change Your Name In Documents After Gender Changes?
The process for changing one’s name can be broadly divided into three steps:
- Prepare an affidavit for a name change.
- Publicise the name change through a newspaper advertisement.
- Submit documents to the Department of Publication.
The most important requirement for changing one’s name is that the applicant be older than 18 years old. For a minor’s name change, a different process is followed. In that circumstances, the minor’s parent or guardian should perform the procedure. Let’s dive more deeply into the steps you must take to apply for a name change in India:
1. Prepare A Change Affidavit:
The first step in the procedure of changing one’s name is to draught an affidavit, which serves as a substantial written declaration of fact produced by a person under oath from a person who has been granted authority to do so.
The entire name, the surname, or a few letters can be changed using this method. Affidavits must be submitted before a district court first-class magistrate, notary public, or oath commissioner with the assistance of counsel.
In order to change their name, they must approach the local notary and declare it. The application must include information such as the old name, the intended new name, the cause for the change of name (marriage, mutual divorce, religion, numerology, gender change, etc.), and the applicant’s current address on the paper notary provides after being stamped.
Get two witnesses to sign the affidavit after printing it on stamp paper duly. Obtaining a stamp (rubber stamp) signed by two individuals holding the gazette officer is required by law. For any future requirements, this document should be kept on file.
2. Publish An Advertisement:
The second stage will be to post a notice or advertisement for a change of name in at least two newspapers, one in the government’s official language and the other in English.
The purpose of the announcement is to make the name change publicly apparent so that a person can subsequently demonstrate a formal declaration of name change in the event of a conflict.
Therefore, newspaper copies must maintain their scanned copies with great care. The previous name and the new name of the candidate, the complete residential address, the name of the witnessing authorities, and the date of the affidavit shall all be included in the notice or advertisement.
If the applicant is a government employee, they must file a change of name deed in accordance with the guidelines outlined in Memorandum No. 19016/01/87, which the Ministry of Home Affairs issued. if the petitioner is a foreign-born Indian. Then, they should deliver an original deed that has been properly attested by the Indian Embassy or Indian High Commission to the Authority.
3. Publish in Gazette Notification:
The substantial proof is required before submitting the name change application and supporting documentation to the Department of Publication. Whether the person chooses to give public notice or not, the cost for a Gazette notification varies—it might be either 700 or 900 rupees. Cash or a demand draught made payable to the controller of publication at the Department of Publication, civil lines, Delhi-110054, shall be accepted as payment.
The “Deed changing surname form” must be carefully filled out and followed in all instructions. The name change must be published in the official gazette within seven days of the application. A copy of the gazette notification must be given to the address listed on the deed form.
Supporting Documents For the Gazette Notification:
- Affidavit for a name change.
- An original copy of the newspaper in which the name change advertisement is published.
- A prescribed form, duly signed by two witnesses, including their relevant personal & contact details.
- A Compact Disc (CD) contains the application’s soft copy in MS word format. The old name of the applicant must be written where their signature would be, as well as information about the witnesses.
- A certificate in which the applicant confirms that the information in the hard copy and the soft copy is the same. The applicant must properly sign the certificate.
- Two self-attested passport-size photographs of the applicant.
- A photocopy of valid ID proof such as Aadhar card, passport, voter identity card, Pan card, license).
- Cover letter
- Demand draft for payment of fees.
Verify Every Document & Make Copies
Even if changing your name is complete, it is essential to keep all the necessary paperwork and use it to change your name on bank records, certificates, and any other paperwork that may be needed. The name change paperwork may be required when you apply for or renew your passport or other upcoming transactions.
In many cases, the name change affidavit process and newspaper advertisements are finished, but the Gazette notification is still pending. Banks may request a Gazette notification before altering your name on an account, even though government employees are exempted from this need, as was previously stated.
Conclusion
Grab hold of each of the necessary documents required when applying for a name change before you start changing your name after a gender change. Check the documents you have filed again after all the necessary documentation. Do you want any spelling mistakes now? We don’t think so!
Keep multiple copies of the registration receipt in case one is misplaced; last but not least. We sincerely hope that reading about the subsequent phases in the name change after the gender change procedure helped you prepare for your own. To know more about the processes involved, you may get in touch with the experts of Vakilsearch.
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