What Is the Procedure to Change My Name Legally?

Changing your name legally involves a formal process that varies depending on the jurisdiction. The process typically includes filing a petition, publishing a notice, and obtaining a court order or gazette notification. This ensures that the change is officially recognized and can be used on all identity documents.

Procedure to Change Your Name Legally

Affidavit Preparation:

To initiate the process, you will need to prepare a sworn affidavit stating the reason for the name change and confirming that you have not changed your name for fraudulent purposes.

The affidavit should include your current name, the new name you wish to adopt, your reasons for the change, and any supporting details (such as your personal history, profession, etc.).

Get the affidavit notarized by a notary public.

Gazette Notification (if required):

In many jurisdictions, you are required to publish your name change in the official gazette of the government. This ensures public notice of your name change and makes it a formal record.

Submit the notarized affidavit and a request for a gazette notification to the relevant government office.

Pay the required fee for publishing the name change in the gazette, if applicable.

Petitioning the Court (if required):

In certain cases, particularly for legal name changes due to marriage, divorce, or other personal reasons, you may need to file a petition with the appropriate court.

Submit the necessary documents, including the affidavit, supporting evidence, and a petition requesting the court to grant your name change.

The court will review your application, and if satisfied, issue a court order allowing you to change your name legally.

New Name on Documents:

Once your name change is officially recognized (via a court order or gazette notification), you can start updating your official records, including your passport, driving license, bank accounts, educational certificates, and other identification documents.

Submit the court order or gazette notification to the respective authorities to update these documents with your new name.

Public Notice (optional in some jurisdictions):

In some jurisdictions, you may also be required to place a public notice in a local newspaper or public forum announcing your name change. This serves as further confirmation of your intent and prevents any misuse of the process.

Updating Legal and Financial Documents:

Once your name change is formalized, ensure that your new name is reflected in all legal and financial documents, including:

• Social security records
• Property deeds
• Bank accounts
• Tax records
• Insurance policies
• Contracts and agreements

Example

If you want to change your name after marriage, you may follow these steps:

• Step 1: Prepare a notarized affidavit stating that you wish to change your surname to your spouse's surname.
• Step 2: Apply for a gazette notification with the affidavit attached, so your name change is officially published.
• Step 3: Once the gazette is published, you can submit it to your bank, passport office, and other institutions to update your name on your records.

Conclusion:

Changing your name legally involves a process that may require an affidavit, a gazette notification, a court petition, and updates to your official records. By following the required legal procedures, you can ensure that your new name is recognized across all legal and identity documents.