October 14, 2025

Name Change Process in India

Citizens of India can apply for the Change of name Through the Central Government Gazette, Which is an online process for a change of name. India people do not need to visit anywhere. We assist you at lsolegal in India For Change of Name in ID Proofs such as Passport, PAN Card, Aadhar Card, Voter id, etc., and school and educational certificates, land, property documents, and in any other documents in India

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The Process of Changing of name in India, Correction of the Name in India can be easily done in any document through Gazette notification as the gazette service is available Offline and online as well in India. Every Person need not to Physically Submit the application to the department of Gazette in India, If you want to change your name online then you have applied in Central Government Gazette for Changing your name in India. Which is valid across all states of India and the world as well.

When compared to other regions of the world, changing one's name and adding initials is a common practice in India. Because Indians are more entrenched in Vaastu and Numerology, it is also customary for women in many cultures to alter their first and last names after marriage. Given how frequent this is, you'd think the operation would be quite rapid. But it isn't; in fact, it's very extensive, needing all of the necessary name change papers to be filled out as well as newspaper advertising. Even though it is lengthy, it is fairly straightforward if you understand how it is done, what stages are performed, and what necessary papers you must provide. If you know all of this, you are ready to go. Follow the steps outlined below to officially alter your name in India.

What is Name Change?

Change Name generally refers to changing one’s name, adding initials or even just one letter is regular or the legal act by a person of adopting a new name different from their name at birth, marriage or adoption

WHY WE NEED NAME CHANGE IN India?

Reasons for Name Change:

Mistake in the birth certificate
Mistake in school certificate
Name Change After marriage by women
Name Change After divorce by women
Spelling errors in documents
For the adoptions of child
Religion change of person
Astrology or Numerology
surname change
Gender Change
You don't like the current name
Change of Identity

In our country, a change of name application has to be submitted to the concerned government department of Government Printing Press – Gazette of India, which officially issues Notification certifying that your Name Change process has been completed and the same is binding on all departments whether private or government as far as name is concerned.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR NAME CHANGE IN India

Either husband
Wife
Family Member anyone can change his or her name at any stage of life

SERVICES WE PROVIDE IN NAME CHANGE IN India :

1 You can change the full name

2 You correct the spelling of your name

3 Sir name add in your name

Eligibility for Name Change In India

1 If You are looking to get Name Change from India then you should have to full below requirement

2 A person should belong to India.

3 They should have valid Government Id Proof

4 He She Should have Valid Reason to change the name

5 In Case of Minor Parent should have to visit GOV office with a child

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR NAME CHANGE India

Address proof the Electricity bill, Water bill, rent agreement.
Photo - A passport size photo is required
Marriage certificate (If any)
Affidavits which is duly notarized (hard copy)
Divorce papers (If any)
Birth certificate in case of minor
New name you want
Person in abroad, then he need to submit the deed duly attested by the respective Indian Embassy.
Hard copy of Publication of the newspaper
Name Change Form duly filled A hard copy.
Digital CD
Deed for Government employees

NAME CHANGE PROCEDURE IN India

The Name Change procedure goes through three steps, and it’s essential to complete each and every step in order to change your name legally.

These Are The Simple Steps For Applying A Name Change In Gazette Of India:

1) Name Change Affidavit

Everyone has to prepare a name change affidavit with the mention of a proper specific reason.

If you want to change your name, firstly you need to make an affidavit for Name Change in local Notary. It must contain your Old name, the New name and must also mention the reason for a name change along with applicant details such as your Husband’s/Father’s name, Address and Age Proof, etc.

2 ) Publish Newspaper Advertisement

Everyone has to do name change announcement should be published in all major national newspapers.

Once you complete the above step, the next step Publication in Newspaper comes in to play.
You need to Publish news of your Name Change as an Advertisement in two local newspapers i.e. one in the Regional LanguageHindi and another one in the English newspaper.

Some Important point to include in the Newspaper Publication:

New Name of Applicant
Old Name of Applicant
Date on which affidavit is made by Applicant
Full Address of Applicant
Age of Applicant
Notary Name who attested the affidavit
Father’s/Husband Name of Applicant

Before you give the advertisement in newspaper, always perform a cross-check of the advertisement to see if all the details mentioned are correct or not. A minor mistake can ruin your complete procedure.

3) Notification In Government Gazette

The name change notification must be published in Indian Government Gazette

Name Change Process in India:

Rs.20/- Affidavit Non-judicial Stamp Paper duly Notarize
Newspaper Ads in under the caption of Name Change
Relevant ID Proofs all you have.
Educational Documents if any
Three Photographs

Process Fee - Payment through Online.

Now you have to Publish the Name Change Notification in Gazette of India by writing the Application along with a DD of fee and required documents.

Now you have to send the following documents to the Department of Publication of Name Change-

Name Change Affidavit which has to be Duly Notarized (Hard Copy)
If You live abroad, then you must submit the deed which has to be duly attested by the respective Indian Embassy/Indian High Commission Only.
Newspaper Publication (Hard Copy)
Hard Copy of the Name Change form which must be duly filled as per the given Format
Make a digital CD. “Soft Copy of Specimen in a Compact Disc (CD)”
Government employees are required to submit the Deed for Name Change in accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs 0. M. No. 190016/1/87-Estt. dated 12/03/1987
A Demand Draft of Rs. 1100/- (for major) and Rs. 1700/- (for Minor) drawn in favour of Controller of Publications, India
Two Passport Size Photographs self-attested
One Self Attested Photo ID Proof
A Certificate which must be signed by the Applicant informing/stating that the information in the Hard and Soft copy is the same.
Application/Forwarding Letter describing all the Documents enclosed within the envelope

4) Need your old Name Id

This means you need to provide any Government old name Id Eg:- Addhar, Voter, Pan Etc

5) Digital Signature CD

You need to Make a digital CD which needs to submit to the gazette office. Take The CD form of the Gazette file and Burn it.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NAME CHANGE OFFICE FOR India CITIZEN

The Government Gazette office is in Bhopal Katara Hills Swami Vivekanand Parisar

Benefits of changing name legally:

No Need of Lawyer: You do need a Lawyer for the same, you can do it yourself.
Marriage and Divorce process are so easy:
Official Recognition:
Record on Permanent :
Easily change name in Aadhaar and other documents:

Rules involved in legal name changing:

Indian Constitution allows all its citizens to change name into anything they want but there are some conditions.

For hide your identity, the Name change is not allowed.
To avoid your debt, liabilities or escape from legal issues,Name change is not allowed
obscene or offensive, name is not allowed
Name with punctuations You cannot take.

HOW TO BOOK ORDER

To book order or for any query or concern related to Name Change In India please speak to one of the consultants over the phone or chat. or drop a message in the query form we will get back to you shortly.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Name Change Process in India

1. What is the legal procedure to change a name in India?

The legal name change process in India involves three main steps:

Affidavit Preparation: You must prepare and notarize an affidavit declaring your new name and reason for the change.
Newspaper Publication: You need to publish the change in one local and one national newspaper.
Gazette Notification: Finally, you apply for official publication in the Government Gazette of India, which legally validates your new name.

2. Who can apply for a name change?

Any Indian citizen—adult, minor, or married woman—can apply for a name change, provided they have valid ID proof and a genuine reason (such as spelling correction, after marriage, adoption, numerology, or personal choice).

3. What documents are required for a name change?

You typically need:

Duly signed affidavit for name change
Two recent passport-size photographs
Self-attested ID proof (Aadhaar/Voter ID/Passport)
Newspaper publication copies
Gazette application form (Annexure–E)
Digital signature (for online submission)

4. Is Gazette notification mandatory for name change?

Yes. Gazette publication is the final and mandatory step for legal recognition. It ensures all government departments, banks, and educational institutions accept your new name officially.

5. How long does the entire process take?

On average:

Affidavit & newspaper publication: 2–3 days
Gazette publication: 15–30 days (depending on workload and department updates)

6. Can I change my child’s name legally?

Yes. A parent or guardian can apply on behalf of a minor. The affidavit should mention the child’s age and the guardian’s consent. Gazette publication will then be done in the minor’s name.

7. Is it possible to change the name after marriage or divorce?

Absolutely. After marriage or divorce, you can change or restore your surname through the same Gazette process. Marriage certificate or divorce decree may be attached as supporting proof.

8. What are common reasons accepted for name change?

Spelling correction
Marriage or divorce
Adoption or guardianship
Astrology or numerology
Personal or religious reasons
Gender transition or identity update

9. Can I apply for name change online?

Yes. You can apply online through LSO Legal Private Limited, which handles affidavit drafting, newspaper publication, and Gazette application digitally—saving your time and effort.

10. Is the Gazette name change valid for all documents?

Yes. Once the Gazette is published, it is legally binding across India. You can update your Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, bank accounts, and educational certificates with the new name.

11. How much does it cost to change your name legally in India?

The total cost depends on the mode (offline or online) and service provider. Through LSO Legal, the process usually ranges from ₹999 to ₹2499, including affidavit, publication, and Gazette facilitation.

12. Can I change my surname only?

Yes, you may choose to change just your surname or first name. However, the affidavit and Gazette must clearly mention the old name and the new full name for clarity.

13. Is court approval required for a name change?

No. For regular name changes, court approval is not required. However, in case of legal disputes, criminal records, or identity issues, the court may need to verify the intent and documentation.

14. Can foreigners or NRIs apply for name change in India?

Yes. NRIs and OCI holders can apply if they have Indian documents or birth registration in India. The process can be completed through authorized representatives or LSO Legal facilitation.