Notice for Change of Name to be Published in the Newspaper

The notice for change of name is the document used to publish a notice or advertisement in a newspaper regarding the change of a person's name. In terms of guidelines issued by the Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, a change of name must be advertised in a local leading newspaper along with the applicable details (such as a residential address, and husband/father's name). Pursuant to the advertisement and the other documents that are required as specified in the guidelines (such as an undertaking signed by the person changing the name), the name change can be published in the official gazette of India.

In effect, the following actions need to be taken to change the name of a person: The first is preparing an affidavit and getting it attested by a notary along with witnesses. The affidavit may be required to be submitted along with the other documents for changing the name in certain official documents.

The second is publishing an advertisement in at least two newspapers, one being in the local language and the other in English. The main details to be published in the advertisement include the old name, new name and residential address, and the name of the notary before whom the affidavit was attested. In the case of minors, the advertisement is required to be published by the legal guardians of the minor. Further, in case of a name change pursuant to marriage, the name of the spouse should also be specified in the advertisement.

The third step is a gazette notification which is mandatory for employees of the government and optional for others. Since a gazette notification is substantial proof of name change, it can ease the process of changing the name in official government documents.

How to use this document?

This document can be used when a name change is to be carried out by anyone. Keep in mind that this advertisement must be preceded by the affidavit which is to be sworn and attested by a notary. In this Notice for change of name to be published in the newspaper, all the pertinent details can be filled in, such as the old name, new name and address as well as the name of notary and name of spouse, where applicable.

Applicable law

The guidelines for change of name have been published by the Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. The guidelines inter-alia provide that the procedure for changing a name in India involves the following things:

1. An affidavit needs to be prepared, signed and attested before a notary for the name change. In the case of persons living outside India, this can be attested before the Indian Embassy/High Commission.

2. An announcement is to be published in an English-language newspaper and a local newspaper in the regional language.

3. A notification should be published in the Gazette of India regarding the name change (this is mandatory for government employees and optional for others). A Gazette notification is considered substantial proof of name change and even though it is not mandatory for everyone, it eases the process of name change in official government documents.

It may be useful to note that an additional undertaking is required if a person adopts the name/surname of another religion without changing his/her religion.

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