Long gone are the days when you had to physically visit the Civil Lines office to publish your name in the official gazette. Today, you can easily do it online. This article will walk you through the entire procedure of how to change your name legally in India.
For various reasons, one can change their name in India following strict rules and regulations. Individual name change in India, involves a few strict legal processes set by the government, like filing applications with relevant agencies to ensure the change is legitimate and not for fraudulent purposes. Similarly, businesses seeking to change their names must comply with government regulations and ensure the new name doesn’t violate trademarks or mislead consumers. Even changes to place names, like cities or streets, require government approval, often involving public consultations to gather community input. Overall, the government ensures name changes are conducted transparently, lawfully, and in the public interest. Here, you will read everything about how to change your name legally in India, and what other actions are needed before you get to publish your name in Gazette India online.
What Is a Legal Name Change?
Sometimes people wish to be addressed by a name different from their current name. Following are some common reasons to change your name legally:
- A desire for a fancy new name
- Correction of spelling in the current name
- Change of religion
- Change of Gender
- After Marriage
- After Divorce
- Astrological reasons
Though you can request your relatives and friends to address you by a new name, it is informal. If you need it to be done legally, you need to change your name through a legal process to reflect the change in all your identity cards, educational, and other important documents.
Documents Required to Change Your Name Legally in India
- An affidavit for the name change
- Newspaper publication
- A deed of name change
- Request letter to the secretariat
- Name change statement
- Reply letter from the secretariat
- Publication money receipt
- Gazette notification
How to Change Your Name Legally in India?
1. Affidavit
- Firstly you need to create an affidavit. Mention your current name and address, and the proposed new name in the affidavit and declare that the details given are true to your knowledge.
- The affidavit should be signed by two witnesses.
- The affidavit has to be then printed on a stamp paper of minimum value as required by your state.
- Then you should visit a nearby notary and get the affidavit notarised. You need to get it signed by two officers of gazette rank.
2. Newspaper Publication
- You will have to publish an advertisement regarding the legal name change in any two local newspapers, one being in the English language and the other in any vernacular language.
- Newspapers have a separate dedicated section for such advertisements. You can refer to them, or contact the newspaper agency for advice on the format.
3. Gazette Notification
A gazette publication means recording and publishing the applicant’s name change in India in the official Gazette. Though optional, you might want to publish your name change in the official gazette to be on the safer side.
A gazette notification is mandatory for Government employees and people seeking to be an aspirant for Government exams. Some banks would mandate you to submit a gazette notification to update their KYC records.
To change a legal name the following documents would be needed:
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- Two copies of the ‘Deed Changing Name Form’ available with the local government press or the department that mobilises Gazette notification
- Two original copies of newspaper advertisements. They are the ones that were published by you
- A request letter to the secretary asking to allow the legal name change
- Attested passport-size photograph
- Attested copy of the name change affidavit
- Your photo ID (PAN, Aadhaar: https://uidai.gov.in/, Driving license, etc.,)
- After the successful verification of all your documents, the Government will publish your name change in the official gazette.
- This gazette publication procedure will cost around ₹700 to ₹900 depending on whether you want to receive a public notice or not. The payment can be made via postal/demand draft or cash.
- The above documents will have to be sent to the Controller of Publication, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054
What to Do After Your Name Change?
Congratulations on successfully changing your name! The next crucial step is to update your name on various official documents. Here’s a clear and straightforward guide to help you with this process:
1. Updating Your Aadhar Card
Your Aadhar Card is often the first document to update. Visit the nearest Aadhar Enrollment Center with your Gazette Notification and a photo ID to change your name.
2. Updating Your Passport
For frequent travelers, updating your passport is essential. Apply for a ‘re-issue’ of your passport and provide the necessary documents, including the Gazette Notification.
3. Updating Your Voter ID
Your Voter ID serves as both identity proof and voting authorization. Fill out Form 8 and submit it to the Electoral Office with the required documents to update your name.
4. Updating Your PAN Card
Your PAN Card is vital for financial activities. Complete the ‘Request for New PAN Card’ form and submit it with your Gazette Notification to update your name.
5. Updating Your Driving License
Finally, update your Driving License. Go to the RTO where your license was issued, and apply for a name change with the necessary documents.
By following these steps, you’ll ensure your new name is officially recognized across all important documents. This final step completes your name change journey, making it official in all aspects of your life. Next, we’ll cover some frequently asked questions to help clear up any remaining doubts.
What are the Pre-requisites for Changing Your Name?
Before you begin the process of changing your name, it’s important to ensure you meet certain requirements. Here’s what you need to know:
Age Requirement
You must be at least 18 years old to change your name legally in India. If you’re a minor, additional steps are involved, and parental consent is usually required.
Citizenship Status
You need to be an Indian citizen to change your name through the standard process. If you’re a foreign national living in India, you’ll need to consult your home country’s embassy or consulate for guidance.
No Legal Issues
You should not have any pending legal issues or criminal cases against you. A name change cannot be used to avoid legal responsibilities or evade the law.
Make sure you meet these criteria before starting the name change process. Once you do, you can move forward with the legal formalities, which we’ll cover in the next sections.
Restrictions on Change in Name
While you have the freedom to change your name in India, certain restrictions apply.
Here are the key limitations:
No Vulgar or Offensive Names
Your new name must not be vulgar or offensive. Names that are inappropriate or insulting are not allowed.
Avoid Complex Names
You cannot choose a name that is excessively long or filled with punctuation marks. Simple and clear names are required.
No Famous Names Without Justification
You cannot change your name to that of a well-known person unless you can prove you have no intent to deceive or impersonate them.
No Identity Concealment
Changing your name to hide your identity is not permitted. The process cannot be used to escape your past or obligations.
No Evasion of Legal or Financial Responsibilities
You are not allowed to change your name to avoid legal issues or financial debts. The name change process should not be used to evade responsibilities.
Benefits of Officially Changing Your Name
Changing your name through the proper legal channels can bring several advantages. Here’s why an official name change is beneficial:
Smooth Process During Marriage and Divorce
Changing your name during marriage or divorce is straightforward. Whether you decide to take your spouse’s name or keep your maiden name, the process is clear and manageable. After a divorce, you can continue using your marital name if you choose, as long as it’s not used to deceive.
No Lawyer Needed
The name change process is something you can handle on your own. While it may be time-consuming, you don’t need a lawyer to manage or execute the process.
Permanent Record
An official name change becomes a permanent and verifiable record. This makes it easy to confirm your identity for various purposes, such as obtaining documents or paying taxes.
Official Recognition
Once your name is legally changed, it will be recognised on all official documents and public services. This ensures that your new name is accepted by government agencies, banks, and other institutions, preventing any issues with false identification.
Update Important Documents
After legally changing your name, you can update crucial identification documents such as your Aadhaar card, PAN card, bank account details, and employment ID. This ensures that all records reflect your new name and are handled correctly by the relevant authorities.
The Takeaway
How to Change Name Legally in India? – Though you might not have to visit as many government offices as we earlier had to, the process of legal name change is still complex and time-consuming. You can opt to subscribe to Vakilsearch’s comprehensive name change service to perform the entire process of the legal name change for you. This will be a completely online process performed for you by experts at Vakilsearch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fee for a name change in the Gazette of India?
It generally varies from state to state to the applicants and their requirements. Though it is provided that ₹700 to ₹900, the cost can vary.
Is Gazette publication mandatory?
It is necessary. Until it appears in the official Gazette, the law will be regarded as still in the process of being enacted, even if it has been approved by the Chancellor.
Is State Gazette enough for a name change?
In many cases, a name change published in the State Gazette may be legally recognised within that particular state or region. However, for broader recognition or legal validity, especially at the national level, publication in the official Gazette of India or similar federal-level publication may be necessary. Consult our legal experts at Vakilsearch for more information.
How to publish Gazette notification?
Gazette Notifications are released by a specific government department and then uploaded onto the egazette website by the relevant Government of India Press using an e-publishing system. The Gazette serves as an official legal document of the government, detailing the procedures and operations governed by the law of the land. It's an authorised publication that communicates important information to the public.
Is it necessary to publish a name change in the Gazette?
Yes, it is necessary to publish a name change in the Gazette for certain official purposes, especially for government employees. However, for non-government individuals, while it may not be legally required in all cases, publishing a name change in the Gazette is often considered important for various administrative and legal processes, such as updating KYC documents and official records.
