Certainly, the name can be changed on the birth proof.
Are you wondering how to change the name on your birth certificate? For sure, it won’t be easy because you may not be aware of its end-to-end procedure. Perhaps the hassles are numerous, and you don’t want to struggle with them. In both conditions, awareness of the whole process can help you out.
A birth certificate is the first official record of a person’s existence. It reads all vital details related to a child, such as name, date and place of birth, and parent details. In a few cases, the name is not included at the time of registering the birth. And sometimes, the applicant wants it to be changed or added later, but not at that time. If this is your case, take into account that it is a legal process. You have to follow several steps, which may vary according to your jurisdiction.
So here come all the steps!
Steps to Add a Name to the Birth Certificate
The competent authority has defined multiple steps to enable a change of name on the birth certificate.
Step 1. Identify Why to Add or Change
Several reasons can be there behind adding or changing the name in a birth certificate. The most obvious reasons are the following:
- Delayed Naming: Some cultures or families do not name right after the birth. They wait for a ceremony on a specific day to take place. Once completed, the name is decided as per rituals.
- Change Later: In a few cases, parents or even the applicants themselves decide to change the name. And the reason can be a personal, cultural, or legal matter.
- Erroneous Name: This can happen due to negligence. The mistake may have happened in spelling the name incorrectly during initial registration, which remained unnoticed at that very time.
Step 2. Legal Requirements and Documentation
When you are aware of the reason why you should add the name, it will be easy to discover the legal requirements for documentation and verification. It all starts with collecting supporting documents, which can be the following:
- Birth certificate (in original)
- Valid ID proofs of the child and parents (passport, driver’s license, school leaving certificate, etc.)
- Affidavit or a notarized sworn statement of the informant, which highlights the reason for adding the name
- Both parents’ sworn statements, showing their consent on this matter
- An order from first class magistrate
Step 3: Publish in a newspaper
The next step is to publish an advertisement or notification regarding the change of name in the local newspaper. For this purpose, you need to select two local newspapers in different languages (both English and local languages).
Publish classifieds with all details, including your new name, old name, date of birth, and address. Fill out the form for your classified. The surname of a married woman should be included.
As the classified is published, collect its copies for future reference. Also, obtain a copy of the “deed-changing name form,” which the Controller of Publication, Department of Publication, provides.
Step 4. Gazette Notification
Come along with these documents in an A4 sized envelope and share with the Controller of Publication before bringing it to the gazette officer:
- A copy of the “Deed”
- A letter of declaration that your name needs a change
- Original copies of advertisements (in both languages)
- Two attested photographs
- Documented proofs of address and identity
Then, the office of the Controller of Publication will send details with the necessary copies of documents in the Gazette. These documents will mention the Advertisement/ Notification. Visit a gazette officer. And get it notified.
Step 5. Discover Fee Structure
As the name is updated, ensure that the government offices replace it with the existing name. This service is payable. Online, you may have to pay between INR 700 and INR 900, which completely depends on the requirement of a public notice.
Step 6. Visit the local municipal office.
India has a well-designed system called local municipal corporations. It has a registrar, who has the authority to add or change the name. Simply visit there or access its website and download the form. An example is here.
Step 7. Fill the application form.
Enclose all the documents mentioned above for further verification. The registrar will examine the authenticity of all documents. Once satisfied with all the papers, he will verify your application.
Mainly, the registrar will analyse and find out if these documents are authentic.
- Proof of the identity of the parents (such as an Aadhaar card, passport, or voter ID).
- Proof of the address of the parents
- Original birth proof
- An affidavit stating the child’s name, duly notarized
- A copy of the “Deed”
- A letter of declaration that your name needs a change
- Original copies of advertisements (in both languages)
- Joint declaration by both parents
Step 8. Pay the Fees
- Here, you need to pay the prescribed fee for integrating your name or changing it. The fee amount varies depending on the municipal office.
As soon as your application is approved, the Birth Certificate with an updated name will be handed over to you. You may collect it physically from the office. Or, it can be received in your inbox (from the official email ID shared).
Conclusion
An individual can get his or her name changed or added to the existing birth certificate. It is a little lengthy and tiresome. Before applying, apply to publish the changed name in a local newspaper in English and the local language. The list of the rest of the supporting documents is as follows: With them, visit the municipal corporation office and apply for a change of name on your birth certificate. This process can be followed online, provided that the website of the municipal corporation is active and providing this service. Alternatively, you can connect with a consultant like Services2NRI and get it done without hassles.
