How to make affidavit for name change?

Name change in India  requires legal procedure and respective documentation for completing the whole process.  If you are looking for a name change, it is important to understand the complete process involved  and mainly about the part of writing an affidavit for name change. The name change affidavit serves as a declaration and a  formal request to modify or change  your excising  legal name. This article will provide you with a clear and concise guidance on how to make affidavit for name change with samples of name change affidavit formats.

What is affidavit for name change?

An affidavit for a name change is a legal documents to make a declaration that a person want to change his /her name to other name . It is used when you want to officially request for permission to change your name after marriage or if it is required to change name on passport or birth certificate. For any of the purpose affidavit should have the following information:

1. Your full name: This is your current legal name, the one you want to change.
2. Your father’s name or husband’s name (if you are married): This helps establish your family background or marital status. If you are married, you might need to provide your husband’s name.
3. Apart from these details, the affidavit should explain why you want to change your name. The reasons can vary, like personal preference or legal and administrative requirements. It’s important to clearly state the reasons and any relevant details related to your name change request.

Why do people change name In India?

Here’s a list of reasons why people change name in India:

1. Marriage: Many individuals change their last name when they get married to adopt their spouse’s surname, symbolizing unity and creating a sense of family.
2. Divorce: In some cases, people may choose to revert to their previous name after a divorce, allowing them to reclaim their identity or disassociate from their former spouse.
3. Personal preference: Some individuals simply prefer a different name and decide to change it legally to align with their personal identity or to express their individuality.
4. Gender identity: Transgender individuals may change their name to reflect their true gender identity, choosing a name that better represents who they are and how they want to be addressed.
5. Cultural or ethnic connection: People may change their names to embrace their cultural heritage or to align with their ethnic background, reclaiming or adopting names that hold personal or historical significance.
6. Simplification: Individuals with complex or difficult-to-spell names may choose to change their name to something simpler and easier to pronounce, making it more convenient for themselves and others.
7. Professional reasons: Some individuals change their name for professional purposes, such as actors adopting stage names, authors using pen names, or individuals trying to create a distinct personal brand.
8. Legal or safety reasons: People may change their name to protect their privacy or safety, particularly in cases involving domestic abuse, stalking, or witness protection programs.
9. Religious or spiritual reasons: Individuals may change their name as part of a religious or spiritual practice, symbolizing a new identity or a deeper commitment to their beliefs.
10. Disassociation: In certain situations, individuals may change their name to distance themselves from a negative or troubled past, seeking a fresh start or leaving behind associations they no longer wish to be connected to.

It’s important to remember that everyone has their own reasons for changing their name, and while the reasons mentioned earlier are common, there could be other personal reasons or situations that drive people to change their names.

How to make affidavit for name change?

To make an affidavit for a name change, you need to follow these steps:

1. Prepare the necessary information: Determine your current name and the proposed new name that you wish to change it to. Ensure that the spelling is accurate and matches your identity proofs.
2. Provide your complete current address: The affidavit should include your full current address, which should be the same as the address mentioned in your identity proofs.
3. Affix a passport size photograph: Attach a recent passport size photograph of yourself to the affidavit. This helps in identification and verification purposes.
4. Print the affidavit on stamp paper: Obtain a stamp paper of the required value, such as ₹10 or ₹20, as per the regulations of your state. Print the affidavit on this stamp paper. The format of the affidavit can be obtained from a legal professional or from a court website.
5. Arrange for witnesses: Find two witnesses who are of gazetted officer rank. They should be willing to sign the affidavit as witnesses to the name change. Their signatures should be accompanied by their official rubber stamp.
6. Notarize the affidavit: Visit the nearest notary office and have the affidavit notarized. The notary will verify your identity and witness the signing of the affidavit. This step adds legal authenticity to the document.
7. Keep a copy of the affidavit: Make sure to save a copy of the notarized affidavit for your records. It may be useful for future legal requirements.

For NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) seeking a name change, they must file a document for the legal name change and have it attested by the Indian High Commission or the Indian Embassy. This attestation ensures that the name change is recognized and accepted by Indian authorities, even when residing abroad.

Name change affidavit format

The process of preparing a name change affidavit requires adhering to a specific format for accuracy and legal validity

Format of the affidavit to change the name

I, [Your Name], S/o [Father’s Name], Daughter of [Mother’s Name], aged around [Age] years, resident of [Residence Address], do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

1. That my name as per the records is [Previous Name].
2. That I have changed my name to [New Name] on [Date of Change of Name].
3. At present, all the records have my new name, [New Name].
4. I am getting a public notice published to this effect in the newspaper.
5. I state that [Previous Name] and [New Name] are the names of one and the same person, which is myself.
6. I am writing this declaration to be submitted to the concerned authorities for the change of name.

I hereby state that whatever is stated herein above is true to the best of my knowledge.

Solemnly affirmed at [Place of Affirmation]

On this [Day] day of [Month] 20[Year]

[Signature of the Applicant]

Deponent

VERIFICATION:

Verified on this day [Date] at [Place] that the contents of the affidavit are true and correct, nothing material has been concealed, and no part of it is false.

Deponent.

Sample affidavit for name change

The few samples of affidavit for name change are given as per propose of name change.

1.Affidavit for name change after marriage

Changing your name after getting married involves filling out a special form called a name change affidavit. This form has to be filled out correctly and in a specific way to make sure it’s legally valid. The affidavit is an important legal document that proves you’ve changed your name. It’s important to follow the given format exactly to make sure the affidavit is accepted and recognized by the law.

The link provides the proper format for Affidavit for name change after marriage

2.Affidavit for name change in birth certificate

To change your name on a birth certificate, you need to write down a name change affidavit. This paper is like a legal form that lets you ask to change the name listed on your birth certificate. It’s really important to follow the rules and format for the affidavit so that it’s done correctly and legally.

The link below provides the proper format for Affidavit for name change in birth certificate

FAQs