Process for Name Change after Marriage

Are you married recently and want a name change after marriage? Changing name after marriage is a common practice in India. When you exchange wedding vows with your soulmate, you are committing to be lifelong partners. It allows individuals to adopt their spouse’s surname or combine their names, symbolizing their new marital status. However, the process for name change after marriage legally involves several steps and requires specific documents to be submitted. In this article, we will provide a simple guide on how to change name after marriage in India, outlining the necessary documents required for name change process after marriage, the process to follow, and associated fees for change name after marriage.

Is it necessary to change name after marriage?

Many newlyweds wonder: is it necessary to change name after marriage? The answer is no—it’s entirely optional. However, if you decide to adopt your spouse’s surname, you need to follow a legal process so your new name is accepted across all documents like your passport, Aadhaar, bank records, and voter ID.

Change name after marriage

The process for name change after marriage requires few steps to follow in terms of documentation and submission of respective documents for gazetted name change. The legal name change after marriage in India typically involves three major steps:

1. Affidavit
2. Newspaper Advertisement
3. Gazette Notification

Name Change Procedure After Marriage

Step 1: Create an Affidavit for Name Change

The first step in the name change after marriage process is to prepare an affidavit. This is a legal document declaring your intent to change your name.

What the affidavit should include:

• Your old name (maiden name)
• Your new name (married name)
• Reason for the change (e.g., marriage)
• Spouse’s name and address
• Declaration that both names belong to the same person

Tips:

• Print this on non-judicial stamp paper (₹10)
• Get it notarized by a Notary Public

Important for married women: Mention marriage details like date and place. If you don’t have a marriage certificate, this affidavit serves as basic proof.

Step 2: Publish a Newspaper Advertisement

To make the name change public, you must place ads in two newspapers:

• One local (in a regional language)
• One national (in English)

Ad content should include:

• Old name
• New name
• Spouse’s name
• Address
• Statement that the name has changed after marriage

Why this matters: Though objections are rare, this step fulfills a public notice requirement and helps in legal transparency.

Step 3: Gazette Notification – Final Step

The Gazette Notification is the final and most legally valid proof of your name change after marriage. It is issued by the Central or State Government’s Gazette Office.

Mandatory for:

• Government employees

Highly recommended for:

• Everyone else (to avoid any document mismatch issues)

Procedure for a name change after marriage through Gazette Publication:

1. Submit a written request due to the wedding to the Gazette department, along with a copy of the marriage certificate and proof of address.
2. Send the supporting documents for changing your name after marriage by registered mail to the appropriate department for verification.
3. Ask the department to include the information in the next issue of the Gazette.
4. Within 15 to 20 working days, a Gazette notification will be delivered to your address via registered mail. This can be used to prove that you have changed your name.
5. Place an ad in two local newspapers/dailies announcing the name change.

Once your name appears in the Gazette, it becomes legally valid across all institutions.

Make affidavit for name change

Passport name change

Aadhar name change update after marriage

Affidavit for name change after marriage

AFFIDAVIT FOR CHANGE OF NAME AFTER MARRIAGE [FEMALE]

I, [Full Name], daughter of [Father’s Name] and wife of [Husband’s Name], aged [Age], residing at [Residential Address], do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows:

1. That my maiden name is [Maiden Name].
2. That I got married to [Husband’s Name] on [Date of Marriage] at [Place of Marriage] vide marriage certificate having number [Marriage Certificate Number], dated [Date of Issuance], issued by [Issuing Authority].
3. After marriage, my name is [Married Name].
4. That in my marriage certificate, both my maiden name and the name of my husband are stated.
5. That my Aadhar number is [Aadhar Number], which remains the same before and after marriage.
6. That my PAN number is [PAN Number], which remains the same before and after marriage.
7. That the said expanded initial (Name), namely, [Expanded Name], may kindly be treated as the first name, [First Name], may be treated as the middle name, and [Last Name] as the last name.
8. I state that [Maiden Name] and [Present Name] are the names of one and the same person, which is myself.

I am executing this declaration to be submitted to the concerned authorities for the change of my name in the membership database.

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

[Signature of Deponent] [Date]

(Affix Passport Size Photograph)

Witnesses:

1. [Witness 1 Name]
2. [Witness 2 Name]

(Affix Passport Size Photograph)

Enclosure:

1. The affidavit has to be sworn before a Notary Public.
2. The photograph of the Deponent should be pasted on the affidavit and attested by the Notary Public with their signature and rubber stamps.
3. Copies of Aadhar card, PAN card, and Marriage Certificate should be attached.

Documents Required for Name Change After Marriage

Here’s what you’ll need at various stages of the name change procedure after marriage:

For the Affidavit

• Proof of old name (like Aadhaar, Passport, PAN)
• Passport-sized photos
• Marriage Certificate (if available)

For Newspaper Ad

• No documents needed, but you need to write the correct ad content

For Gazette Notification

• Notarized affidavit
• Original newspaper clippings
• Gazette application form
• Identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN)
• Address proof
• Passport-sized photos
• Marriage Certificate (optional but helpful)

Fees for change of name after marriage

When changing name after marriage, there are a few key steps and associated fees:

1. Affidavit: Create an affidavit with your current name, proposed new name, address, and reason for the name change. Print it on ₹10 stamp paper, costing ₹10.
2. Newspaper Advertisement: Advertise your name change in two local newspapers, one English and one vernacular. The cost ranges from ₹750 to ₹1,000, depending on the newspaper.
3. Gazette Publication: Publish your name change after Marriage in the official gazette. This step may cost around ₹750 to ₹900, depending on whether you opt for a public notice.

FAQs

Is it necessary for a woman to change name after marriage in India?

No, it is not necessary for a woman to change her name after marriage in India. It is entirely a matter of personal choice and convention. Legally, a woman can retain her maiden name, adopt her husband's surname or choose to hyphenate.

How much time it will take to change name after marriage in India?

It takes around 2-3 months considering whole procedure for name change.

Is it mandatory to update the name on the Aadhaar card after marriage?

Is it mandatory to update the name on the Aadhaar card after getting married? While it is not obligatory, it is quite common for individuals to change their surname after marriage. However, if you want to officially incorporate the new title into your name, it is necessary to update it in your document proofs as well. The procedure for changing the surname on the Aadhaar card after marriage is a simple.