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Name Change

How to Change Name Legally in India? Gazette Name Change

Long gone are the days when you had to physically visit the Civil lines office for publishing your name in the official gazette. Today, you can easily do it online. This article will walk you through the entire procedure.

Overview:

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 for a name change.

  • 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.

Change Name Legally in India

Documents Required to Change Name Legally in India

  1. An affidavit for the name change
  2. Newspaper publication
  3. A deed of name change
  4. Request letter to the secretariat
  5. Name change statement
  6. Reply letter from the secretariat
  7. Publication money receipt
  8. Gazette notification

How to Get Your Name Changed 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 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:

    • 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
Note that the charges given can vary from state to state. The information given above is subject to change. Individuals must check with the latest updates or contact our experts at Vakilsearch for updated information.

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.

 

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