Name change

Services Overview

The name change means changing one's name by way of adding initials or adding just one letter or by legal action if a person adopts a new name different from his or her birth name, marriage or adoption name. Nowadays name change is a very common thing. Many people change names for different reasons. They are for good luck, for marriage or to just change the spelling. It is to be noted that after Name Change it becomes a legal effect and it will become one's identity and legal name. Name change is done officially which has to go through legal processes which are quite lengthy and complex.

Reasons for Name Change:   

1. Error in the birth certificate

2. Errors in school certificate

3. After marriage by women

4. After divorce by women

5. Spelling errors

6. For adoptions

7. If religion is changed

8. Numerology or astrology

9. To change surname

10. Change of gender

11. Dislike of current name

12. Identity change

Eligibility for Name Change:

1. A person should be an Indian.

2. They should have valid Government Id proof.

3. He or she should have a valid reason to change the name. 

4. In the case of minors, parents should visit a Government office with that child.

Who can apply for Name Change:

1. Either husband

2. Wife

3. Family member 

4. Anyone can change the name at any stage of life

Importance of complying with all the legal formalities in a Name Change Procedure:

When technology has been incorporated into so many facets of our everyday life especially for proof of identity, so it is important to note that any change in a person’s identity should be legally done.

As our names are furnished on various documents such as PAN, Aadhaar card, Bank Accounts, Marksheets, Birth Certificate, etc which are served as a purpose of identity verification. So before making changes to these records with respect to the name change, it is very much essential that your identity is legally verified and changed by the party or officer appointed by the Center/ State.

Some people who resort to identity theft, credit card fraud, illegal signatures, spies or terrorists or credit evasion, etc. will use the guise of different names to conduct their criminal associations.

A name change should be done legally so that the new name can be stored as a permanent name on record for all purposes. The process of doing legally will ensure transparency and accountability for your identification or verification.

Benefits of changing name legally:

1. No requirement of Lawyer: The services required for the name change is tedious but you can manage on your own and there is no requirement of a Lawyer to process and execute the some.

2. Easy during Marriage and Divorce: The process of name change is simple and easy during marriage and divorce. Under Family Courts Act, 1988, if a woman doesn't want to adopt her husband’s name after marriage, then divorce proceedings can be initiated in her maiden name or any other name which has been notified in the official gazette. Even after divorce if any party desires to continue with their married names he can do so unless one partner does so to defraud the other partner.

3. Gives you an Official Recognition: As an Indian citizen, if one makes an application for any document or public service, the same will be approved and granted with your new name as your official name on that document. The same will not be available if you opt for the incomplete or incorrect procedure for a change in name. Such a person may be rejected for improper proof of identity by some government offices, public sector banks, etc.

4. Permanent on Record: If the process of name change happens by the official route it serves as a permanent authentic record for anyone to view or access. This becomes easy to verify. It also creates fewer problems to get documents, to pay taxes, etc.

5. Availability of Aadhaar after name change: Once you change your name, you may also require to update other important records of identification such as Aadhaar, PAN, Bank Account Number, Employment Id, etc with your new identification. So for the records to be updated, the official name change should be followed so that it may be approved and processed by the concerned authorities.

Rules involved in legal name changing:

Indian law allows its citizens to change their name into anything they prefer but there are some exceptions. They are:

1. Name change is not allowed if you want to hide your identity.

2. Name change is not allowed to avoid your debt, liabilities or escape from legal issues.

3. The Court will not allow you to change the name to that of a famous personality unless you prove that you have no intention to mislead anyone.

4. The name should not be obscene or offensive.

5. You cannot choose a complicated name that involves punctuations.