Name Change Affidavit – People change very often in India and while changing their name the initial step of name change is to draft an affidavit for change of name. This is an important document that is signed and stamped by the notary’s office. As name change is a legal process everyone needs to understand the affidavit. The name change affidavit will serve as a declaration and a request to change the name. This article will help you understand the importance of an affidavit and give you an insight into the process of the affidavit. Those who are not aware of the affidavit should read this article with a clear conscious.

What Is A Name Change Affidavit?

An affidavit for a change of name is a type of formal request or declaration made by a person to change his/her name. Affidavit is used in every name change document whether it is a name change after marriage, or birth certificate, or any other work affidavit is also used by lawyers in legal cases. The affidavit for name change should have the below information inscribed in it:-

The full name of the applicant that they want to change.
If the applicant is married then it is required to mention their spouse’s name and if the applicant is not married then the applicant’s parents name is required.
The affidavit should also mention the reason for the name change.

Documents Required For Name Change Affidavit

Below are the documents that have to be submitted to the government for name change affidavit:-

The identity proof of the applicant will be needed, like an AADHAR card, PAN card, etc, which can also be used as address proof.
Two passport-size photo
Proof of date of birth
A request letter which also be needed with the amount that has to be paid for the name change affidavit.
A letter will be submitted stating that the content mentioned in the hard copy and soft copy is true.
Make sure that two witnesses should be available for you.

These are the documents that will be required for the name change affidavit, you have to keep one thing in mind before submitting the affidavit ensure to make a copy of the affidavit for future use.

Read Also:- Name Change Consultant In India

Why Do People Change Names In India?

The reason for name change of people can vary from person to person. So here are the most common reasons why people change their names:-

Marriage: Many women change their name due to marriage as they want to adapt their husband’s names or in some cases, they hyphen their husband’s surname.
Divorce: Sometimes women want to change back to their identity because of divorce as they want their original name so they revert their name to the original one.
Personal Preference: People also change their name because they want to go with the trend and want such name that suits their personality.
Gender change: Sometimes people change their gender due to which their name is also changed. There are also sometimes when transgenders change their name to match to their gender.
Cultural Connection: There are also times when people change their name to embrace their religion.

There might be other reasons where people change their name so it is important to mention your name change reason in the affidavit.

Types Of Name Change Affidavit

Different types of name change affidavit that serve different purposes and below you will find all the affidavits with their purpose:-

One Person Many Names Affidavit

This type of affidavit is required by those who have different names on their document and this affidavit works as a verification or proof in front of the government that the different names belong to one person only.

Name Change Affidavit

This type of affidavit is used by people who want to legally change their name and this is also been used when the name change is published in the Gazette of India.

Name Change After Marriage

This type of affidavit is used by women who are married and wish to change their name or surname after marriage and when the changes have been made to this document all the other documents will be corrected with the help of this affidavit.

Name Change for Minors

This type of affidavit is needed by those who wish to change the name of a minor which should be filled by their parents.

Name Change on Passport

A name change in the passport is of two types:-

Annexure D: In this type of name change affidavit the person who wanted to change their name after marriage uses Annexure D.
Annexure E: In this type the name change affidavit, is used for both major and minor persons and they will do it under Annexure E.

Procedure For Name Change Affidavit

Most of you think that drafting a legal affidavit is just filling in your details and then submit but it is more important than that and you should know the proper procedure for how to format the affidavit:-

Drafting: The first step that you have to do is draft an affidavit, you can get this affidavit online from the official website, or you can visit the notary office and get the affidavit from the officer. After getting the affidavit you have to fill in all the details that are written in the affidavit.
Printing: Once you have filled the affidavit, you should print it on the stamp paper and if doing it offline, then the notary office will take care of the stamp.
Signatures: This is the final step where the applicant has to sign with the officer. And if the affidavit is for a minor’s name change then the signature of parents will be needed.

Format Of Name Change Affidavit

Below you will find the format of the affidavit so that you won’t be mistaken while submitting the affidavit. This is a straightforward process that will give you an idea about the affidavit.

I ___ (full name that you have changed) residing at ___ (full address) stated solemnly that:

I have changed my name from ___ (old name) to __ (new name)
Due to ___ (reason for name change) I had to change my name
Every document contains my new name which is ___.
I am issuing a notice in the newspaper about my new name.
I confirm that the the __ (new name) and __ (old name) are of sane person.
This affidavit has been made to request for name change
This affidavit is written so that my name change should be informed to others.

Date when the affidavit is submitted

Signature

Verification

I __ (deponent’s name) state that the contents of this affidavit are correct and nothing is concealed and true to my knowledge.

Points to remember while writing the name change affidavit

There are a few details that you should never forget while drafting an affidavit for name change:-

While writing your new name and old name be careful to put the names in their correct place and double-check their spellings.
The address that you will put in the affidavit should match the address of your identity.
Don’t forget to put a passport-size photo on the affidavit.
The cost of printing the affidavit on stamp paper will be around Rs. 10 or Rs. 20.
The affidavit should be signed by the two persons who hold the rank of Gazette officer.
Don’t forget to make a copy of the affidavit before submitting it to the authorities.
For people who live abroad and want to change their name, they will need a deed of name change signed by the Indian High Commission or Indian Embassy.

Mistakes That Need To Be Avoided While Applying For Name Change Affidavit

There are some mistakes made by people due to which their plea for name change is rejected, so read the below mistakes and avoid them while making the affidavit.

Double-check everything that you mention in the affidavit as a single spelling mistake can reject your request.
Ensure that the affidavit should be properly signed by the authorities and attested as incorrect attestation might reject your affidavit.
The most common mistake made by people is that they forget to put the date and place of the affidavit which leads to the rejection of the application.

If you avoid the above mistakes, then your affidavit can be legally accepted and you can prepare for the next name change.

Conclusion

Drafting an affidavit for name change demands utmost attention, and if you are not attentive, then this simple procedure will be very difficult for you. So, you are advised to read this article to form a good affidavit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What should I do after changing my name online?

After you have submitted your name change application when it will be verified, you will receive a soft copy of the gazette that will mention the details of the publication page.

Can I revert to my name that has been changed?

Yes, you can change your name again after changing it online.

Is it necessary to hire a lawyer for an online name change?

No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer for a name change but as the process of name change is complex, it is recommended to hire a lawyer.

Do we require an affidavit for a name change?

Yes, an affidavit is mandatory for a name change in India.

What will be the cost of a name change in India?

The cost of the name change process will depend on state-wise, in some, it will be around Rs. 2000, and in some, Rs. 5000.