Some of you might wonder why would anybody want to change their name legally? After all, there is a power and effect of a name.
Also, the majority would say what’s in a name? But for many significant others, it is an equally important thing triggering their self-esteem and confidence.
On the other hand, there are some people who are bullied because of their names.
Well, personally I agree to face the rough waters because of my funny-sounding name and feeling recluse for being a laughing stock among my peers.
Not to mention the humiliation and the negative effect on self-image that came along with it!!!
So, if you too were name-shamed at any point of your life and wanted to change your name at any cost but had no idea about how to do it, this blog on how to change your name legally in India is just apt for you.
This article will look at how to change the name in India, name change procedure, gazette publishing for the name change, gazette name change online costs, how to change name legally in India, name change process in India, and so on.
Despite the fact that many individuals despise their names, not everyone would choose to change them due to a lack of proper knowledge. But in reality, changing your name is pretty easy, especially with DailyFiling at your service.
But before you proceed further let us find out the major reasons why would anyone actually want to change their name?
Reasons To Change Name
- Certificates produced by schools or colleges have different names.
- Change of name on the birth certificate and school leaving certificate, especially if applying for a passport.
- The initial is either absent or not expanded.
- There is no middle or last name.
- The name differs in the identity cards and related documents.
- Name of a woman changes after marriage.
- Change of name following divorce in the case of a woman’s remarriage
- The name is misspelled accidently during translation from the native tongue to English.
- Name change as a result of spelling mistake in the previous name.
- Name change as a result of adoption for a child.
- Change of name as a result of numerology or astrology.
- Change of name to reflect a change in profession
Procedure for changing the name legally in India
Read the steps below to ensure you have everything in order to change your name to your desired initials.
The legal procedure for name change involves the completion of name change documents, newspaper advertisement, and verification by the gazette officers, following which only one can avail the name change document and start using it publicly.
To change one’s name on one’s own, the first and most important need for a name change application is that he or she be over the age of 18. The method for changing a minor’s name is different.
Here is further information on what has to be done to change one’s name.
Despite the fact that there are several reasons for changing your name, the procedure to change your name consists of only three steps as listed below.
- Make an affidavit for a name change.
- Place a newspaper advertisement declaring the change in the name.
- Notify it in the State Gazette.
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Make an Affidavit for Name Change
The very first step for the change in name requires producing and submitting an affidavit stating why he/she wants to change their name. This procedure requires the help of a notary.
- The full name of the applicant/deponent.
- Name of father or husband (in case of married women)
- Complete residential address
- A declaration stating that the facts provided in the affidavit are true and correct to their knowledge.
The deponent should sign the affidavit in the designated location. It must be attested by a Judicial Magistrate, Notary Public, or Oaths Commissioner.
You should also read “Useful Facts About Bonafide Certificate“
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Declaration and Publication in local Newspaper
Following the Notarization of the affidavit, one must announce the name change by publishing it in any local newspaper.
You can change your name by contacting the newspaper office. They usually have a separate area for name change in their newspaper.
- The name change advertising must be published in one of the prominent local daily newspapers with complete information.
- The advertisement should include the applicant’s old and new names.
- Applicant’s full residence address.
- Name of the witnessing/attesting authority.
- The date and location of the affidavit.
After publishing a name change Ad in a newspaper make sure to collect copies of it for future use.
If the applicant is a Government employee, he or she will need to file a deed for name change in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Office Memorandum No. 19016/01/87.
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Notify it in the State Gazette
Gazette notification concerning name change is considered mandatory for the government employees but voluntary for everyone else. However, if you wish to update your name on various certificates and identification cards, a copy of the Gazette notification is required.
You must declare your name change in the gazette. You can seek assistance from the office of the Controller of Publication, Government Press in your state. The following papers are necessary for your name to be published in the State Gazette.
An affidavit signed by the applicant and witnessed by a Judicial Magistrate/Notary.
Documents Required For Legal Name Change
- The original newspaper with the name change Advertisement.
- Prescribed proforma, it should be typed on a computer rather than handwritten with signatures of the applicant and two witnesses.
- A compact disc (CD) containing the application’s soft copy (typed content, not a scanned copy) in MS Word format.
- The applicant’s former name must be provided in place of the applicant’s signature.
- A certificate in which the applicant certifies that the content of both the soft copy and the hard copy are the same. The applicant must sign the certificate in order for it to be valid.
- The applicant must provide two passport-sized pictures, both of which must be self-attested.
- A photocopy of valid ID evidence that the applicant has self-attested.
- A request letter, as well as the appropriate charge, as determined by the respective Authority.
The above-mentioned papers, along with printing costs and a forwarding note, shall be sent to The Controller of Publications, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. The papers must be submitted either in person or by post/courier to the Department.
If a person of one religion seeks to change his name to another without changing religions, he or she must present an affidavit stating that they have not changed the religion.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) should sign the affidavit. In this situation, as well, the publishing costs of advertising in the Gazette vary.
The papers will be reviewed by the Department’s appropriate personnel after the application is submitted. After checking that the application is complete in all respects, it will be forwarded to the relevant Government of India Press for publication.
An electronic copy of the Gazette of India will be made accessible for download through the Digital Directory. The Authority will provide you with a copy of the name change notification published in the Indian Gazette.
On the side note, if you want help with private limited company registration on your name, you should seek expert’s guidance and also get your name corrected in legal documents so all process gets completed flawlessly.
Fees for Gazette notification
Your contribution to the name-changing procedure in India is now complete. Let us now discuss the gazette name change online fees. The government will publish your new name in the Gazette. The fee for Gazette notifications varies depending on whether or not you want a public notice – either Rs. 700 or Rs. 900.
You can pay in cash or by demand draft/postal order made payable to ‘the Controller of Publication, Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi –110054’.
If you are submitting it in person, you must go to this address (office hours are between 10 AM and 1 PM and 2 PM to 3 PM on any working day).
Alternatively, you can courier/speed post the envelope with all details to the above-mentioned address. For further information, see the Department of Publication’s (Government of India) website.
Charges for Name Change
Changing your name may cost you roughly INR 3000. The following are a few of the charges that are included in it.
- Affidavit – 20 rupee stamp paper
- Notary fees are INR 200.
- Notification in the Gazette – INR 1500
- INR 50 for a CD
- INR 750 for a newspaper
Change Name easily with DailyFiling
DailyFiling is your own legal consultant with the objective to serve you better by handling all your legal concerns including a name change procedure.
Our online and easy name change procedure requires only submitting the necessary documents to us. And the rest of the affairs are taken care of by us. The documents needed are as follows:
- Old Name
- Desired new name
- ID proofs
- Residential Address
- Photographs
So just submit the above-mentioned documents and relax while we introduce you to the world with a new name and identity.
