Gazette Notification For Name Change

Changing your name officially is not a casual thing, it's one of the life events that happened because of some strong reasons. Whether it's after marriage, spelling correction, astrological belief or a new name required for a fresh start, if you ever thought of changing your name legally then you must be aware of the legal procedure you need to go through during the name change.

In India, if you want to change your name legally then you need to publish your name change in the Gazette of India. It's an official government record where all the databases are stored and up-to-date. Without Gazette Notification, the name change process can be considered official.

However, many people don’t know about Gazette Notification and its role in changing names in India. Don't worry!

In this article, we will understand everything about the Gazette Certificate, its importance, eligibility criteria, documents required and a step-by-step process to change the name legally.

So, without any further delay, let's dive in!

What Is A Gazette Certificate?

A Gazette Certificate is an official document which is issued by the Indian Government to confirm your name change. There's an official Gazette of India public journal where all the names are legally published. So, when you want to change your name, DOB or religion on documents, then first it's updated on the Gazette publication, then it's considered as legal proof, which means your new name is acknowledged by all the Government bodies across the country. Then, you can easily change your name on other official documents, including your Aadhar card, Bank account, PAN card, etc. The Gazette Certificate is recognized by all Government bodies, banks and educational institutes and is considered a legal document.

Why Do We Need Gazette Notification For Name Change?

A Gazette Notification is important because once your new name is published in the Gazette of India, then it's considered legal proof, which shows that all the Government bodies across the nation have recognized your new name and its proof. With the help of a Gazette Notification, you can easily change your name and DOB or make corrections in other documents, including Aadhar, Passport, Bank records, etc. If you don't have a gazette notification, then it's challenging to change your name in other documents, but Gazette Notification ensures public record and easy name change.

Eligibility Criteria For Gazette Name Change In India

To apply for the Gazette notification, here's the eligibility criteria:

• You must be an Indian citizen with a Government ID.
• Age 18 or more
• The Guardian or Parents can change a minor's name.
• You don't have any pending legal issues or Criminal Cases.
• You must have a valid reason to change your name.

Which Documents Are Required For The Gazette Name Change Process?

Here are the following documents that are required for name change in Gazette:

• Notarized Affidavit: It's a formal declaration of your intent to change your name officially, signed and stamped by a notary.
• Identity Proof: You must have a government ID like an Aadhar card, Voter ID, Passport, etc for proof.
• Address Proof: Need proof of address like Utility bills, rent agreement or any Government document that shows your address.
• Newspaper Publication: Proof of your name change advertisement in two local newspapers (one in the local language and one in English).
• Digital CD: A soft copy of your application and documents.
• Photograph: Two passport-size photos are required.

Reasons For Name Change In India

There are several reasons for changing names in India. Here are some common reasons:

• Missing middle or last name
• Spelling correction
• Because of divorce
• For women, because of marriage
• Based on numerology and astrology
• Due to religious conversion
• Adoption of a new child
• Personal reason to start a new life
• Because of gender transition
• Because of documentation error
• Wan to change in school records
• The desire for more ethnic name
• Sharing surname with same-sex partner
• Due to political reasons

These are some common reasons for people to change their names legally in India. However, there are some scenarios when someone can't change their name officially, such as changing their name after committing a crime for hiding financial debts or any criminal charges. These are not counted as valid reasons for a name change.

How To Start The Name Change Process?

Here’s the step-by-step process to change the name legally in India:

Step 1. Creating The Affidavit

First, you need to create an affidavit stating your current name and the new name you want to change with a valid reason. Get the affidavit notarized with a stamp and signed by a notary public. 

Step 2. Publishing In Newspapers

Then, you need to publish your new name in local newspapers in two languages (one in the local language and one in English). 

The advertisement in the newspaper includes your old name, new name and the date of creation of the affidavit.

Once the newspaper publishes your advertisement, take copies of the published advertisement for further submission.

Step 3. Prepare Documents In Digital Format

Now, you need to prepare the digital CD that contains soft copies of all the required documents including the affidavit in MS Word.

Step 4. Submitting Documents To The Gazette Office

All your documents are ready, and now it's time to submit them to the Gazette office.

First, get the application form available from the Department of Publication then fill it out properly and attach all the required documents including a notarized affidavit, newspaper clippings, CD, fee receipt and address proof.

Then the file has to be submitted to the gazette office by post/courier or you can go personally to submit.

Step 5. Receiving the Gazette Notification

The Gazette office will review your application and publish the notification soon in the official gazetteer. Then, it will be sent to your address as legal proof.

Post-Gazette: After receiving the Gazette notification, you need to update your new name in all other essential documents including your Aadhar card, PAN card, Passport, Voter ID and Bank accounts.

Name Change Office Address of Central Government?

If you want to change your name legally in India and are looking for a name change office address, then it's located in North Delhi at the Department of Publication, Civil Lines, Delhi-110054. Ph: 8588887480 (Call for Further Guidance).

This office is where all the name change operations are handled and published in the Gazette. Here, you need to submit all your required documents and pay the fees to publish your name change in the Government Gazette.

Gazette Name Change Cost In India

Here's the estimated cost of changing the name via the Gazette:

• Affidavit Charges: It goes around a few hundred rupees, depending on the notary fees, around ₹200.
• Newspaper Advertisement: It costs around ₹1000 to ₹3000 for both ads in the newspaper.
• Gazette Publication Fee: The gazette fees can range from ₹1100 to ₹1700 depending on the type of name change. Whether it’s name correction, minor's change or post-marriage change).

Some Common Mistakes To Avoid When Changing Name

Here are some common mistakes you must avoid while changing your name legally:

• Filling incorrect details in the affidavit
• Don't advertise in the newspaper.
• Incomplete application form of gazette
• Missing required documents
• Ignoring deadlines for submissions
• Not following the procedure.

Conclusion

A Gazette Notification is the official publication of the government and is used to inform people of significant updates or changes, including name change notifications. For government bodies and organizations, a gazette notification is considered legal proof, which makes the name change process in other documents faster. We hope this guide helps you know everything about Gazette Notification, its importance, eligibility criteria, required documents and step-by-step process. Now, it's your turn to prepare the required documents and follow the given steps to change your name officially in India.

FAQs

Q. What does "gazetted" mean?

"Gazetted" means that something is officially announced or recorded in a government document then it's called the Gazette.

Q. What is a Gazette Notification for a name change?

A Gazette Notification is an official announcement by the government that your name has been changed officially and now you can use this notification as legal proof to change your name on other government documents easily.

Q. Why might someone want to change their name in India?

There are various reasons why people want to change their names such as marriage, divorce, religion, spelling correction or personal preference.

Q. What are the eligibility requirements for changing your name in India through a Gazette Notification?

To change the name legally in India via gazette notification then the requirement is simple - you must be an Indian citizen, official government ID, be at least 18 years old and free from any ongoing legal issues or criminal cases.

Q. How do I prepare the affidavit for a name change?

You need to find a sample affidavit format and then include all the information i.e., current name, new name and the reason for the change. Then you need to notarize the affidavit by a notary public with a stamp and signature.

Q. What is the process for publishing the name change in newspapers?

You need to publish an advertisement about your name change in two newspapers (one in the local language and one in English). Once it's published then you need to take copies of both advertisements for the proof.

Q. What happens after I submit my application to the Gazette Office?

Once you submit your application with the attached documents to the Gazette office, it will review your application, and if everything is correct, then they'll publish your new name in the official Gazette. Plus, you'll also receive a copy of this publication as official proof of your new name.

Q. Is the Gazette a legal document?

Yes, the Gazette is a legal document that is published by the government and well-known by all the government bodies and organizations.

Q. Is it mandatory to publish a name change in the official Gazette?

It's not mandatory for everything but it's highly recommended to go with this option while changing names legally, especially for the government employees.

Q. Can I check the status of my name change online?

Yes, you can easily track your name change status by visiting.