In a conventional society like India, it is a social default to take up the husband's name after marriage. Why is it so? What are the pros of changing your legal name? Let's find out!
Right after your marriage, people would soon bring up the subject of changing your maiden name, and taking up your husband’s name. Believe it or not, the roots of our culture and traditions are so deep that you might have consciously or subconsciously thought about it yourself.
Though society implies that you are morally obligated to drop your maiden name and take up your husband’s, it is completely a personal choice. Well, if you do want to know more about the process of changing surname after marriage, let’s start with the benefits.
Benefits of Changing Surname After Marriage
- As we already know, society does expect women to take up the husband’s name. By adding your husband’s name to yours, you get to put a full stop to the questions often being raised by relatives and neighbors.
- As a lot of Indian parents are still living as per conventional traditions and customs, you might be able to keep your in-laws happy, and might not have much explaining to do.
- The online name change thing is so deep-rooted in our customs that even some Government officials expect you to do so, or more so, might morally obligate you to take up your husband’s name to complete any Government process: https://www.india.gov.in/
- Sharing the same surname makes the work hassle-free. So, changing to add your husband’s surname to yours would help in documentation and make the paperwork easy for application of visa, passport, joint accounts, properties, etc.
- If you wish to start life afresh in your marriage, leaving behind your past, changing names would help you do so.
- it would be easier for your future kids to be known by a shared surname. In India, children are still expected to take up their father’s surname. Changing your surname will lower the risk of an identity crisis for your child.
- Some women believe a change of name is a pathway to feel a sense of belongingness to the new phase of life or as a part of the new family.
Process of Changing Surname After Marriage In India
- Get a joint affidavit with a declaration of marriage stating that you desire to change your name. You could change your name partially, or even add your husband’s name to yours. As a change of name after marriage, you will have to submit the following details.
- Current name with the father’s name and address
- A proposed new name with the husband’s name and address
- Date of marriage
- Print the affidavit on ₹10 stamp paper. Both the husband and the wife must sign the affidavit.
- Attach the Marriage certificate online and passport-size photographs of both the husband and the wife.
- Notarise the affidavit by visiting a notary.
- You will need to publish a declaration of the name change in any two local newspapers. You can contact the newspaper agency to advise on the format.
- To get your change of name published in the Gazette, visit the local Government Press or the department that handles Gazette notifications and request them to publish the same in the Gazette.
- You will receive a gazette notification at your address within 15 to 30 working days.
Notarized Affidavit
Changing surname after marriage can be done through two methods: Notarized Affidavit and Gazette Publication. The Notarized Affidavit method requires filing a joint affidavit with a declaration of marriage, printing the affidavit on an INR 10 stamp paper, and having it duly signed by the husband and wife.
The affidavit should include details such as the wife’s maiden name, proposed new name, husband’s name, and address. The affidavit should be notarized by a notary, and an advertisement about the name change should be published in two local newspapers/dailies.
Gazette Publication
On the other hand, the Gazette Publication method requires applying to the Department of Publication of the respective state government.
The application should include a copy of the marriage certificate, a copy of the joint affidavit, and passport-sized photographs of the husband and wife. The application will then be published in the Gazette of India, and a copy of the Gazette Notification will be sent to the applicant. Thereafter an advertisement about the name change should be published in two local newspapers/dailies.
Vakilsearch Can Help You Legalize Your New Name
The process of changing surname after marriage might seem simple but overwhelming. Sorting all the documents and following up with the procedure can seem time-consuming and confusing. That’s where Vakilsearch can help you. Experts at Vakilsearch will categorize all your documents properly, file them for you, and even inform you about the gazette notification. And the best part is you can make it happen right from your home, as it is a completely online process.
FAQs
What are the disadvantages of not changing name after marriage?
Not changing your name after marriage can lead to administrative inconveniences. It may result in having different surnames from your spouse and children, which can sometimes cause confusion or challenges when dealing with certain institutions or during international travel.
Why should a woman not change her last name?
A woman should not feel obligated to change her last name after marriage. It's a personal choice, and there are various reasons for not changing it. For example, if you wish to maintain your identity and professional reputation associated with your original name you can skip the process of changing your surname after marriage.
Why do wives take a husband's last name?
Wives taking their husband's last names is a tradition rooted in historical and cultural practices. Many women choose to adopt their husband's name as a symbol of unity and commitment in marriage.
Also, Read:
