Name Change Affidavit Karnataka: Format, Documents & Procedure

How to Write a Name Change Affidavit in Karnataka: Format, Notarization & Documents (2026)

The affidavit is first. The name change affidavit format Karnataka is the name before the newspaper advertisements, before the Gazette application, before anything else the affidavit format of name change. Make one mistake and you have not simply to repeat the affidavit. You are repeating the newspaper procedure, waiting till you get new cuttings, and wasting weeks.

This guide will include the contents that the affidavit should include, the means by which it is to be notarized, the stamp paper to be used and the special cases in which the affidavit requires modification such as minors, change of religion, change of surname upon marriage etc.

I. What a Name Change Affidavit Actually Is

It is an oath, a written statement. In the case of the change of name procedure in Karnataka, it is your official statement that you are renouncing your old name and you are giving a new one. Signing under the Notary Public stamp paper, with your identity established.

All institutions to which a name change is submitted, namely the Gazette office in Bangalore, newspaper agencies, Passport Seva, and banks, consider the affidavit as the original document. What is written in it must be in accord with all that comes after it.

II. What the Affidavit Must Include

To be legally binding, such as when you file the name change affidavit format Karnataka, regardless of whether you are in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi or any other part of the state, it must encompass the following aspects:

• Complete name of the deponent: Your present legal name as found in current records. Not a nickname. Not a colloquial spelling.
• Name of father or husband: For identification. The name of the mother is also written in some forms.
• Age and address of residence: Forms Karnataka residency that is important in Gazette application.
• Declaration of change: A first-person declaration: "I have renamed myself [New Name] instead of [Old Name]."
• Reason for change: Marriage, correcting spelling, numerology, personal preference. A single clear sentence suffices.
• Verification clause: A declaration that all said is true.

III. Step-by-Step: Notarizing Your Affidavit

Step 1 — Buy the Stamp Paper

In Karnataka, a ₹20 or ₹50 non-judicial stamp paper is required to change the name, usually ₹50, and costs ₹20. Obtained at licensed stamp sellers or e-Stamp counters—e-Stamp is very common and the stamp paper can be readily found, particularly in Bengaluru. Some institutions, such as some banks or government departments, require ₹100 stamp paper. Confirm with the institution prior to printing.

Step 2 — Draft the Content

Type out in the proper name change affidavit format Karnataka. No additions to the printed copy in handwritings. No whitener. No corrections. Any one error like wrong date of birth or a transposed letter in the new name demands a new affidavit. The text of the affidavit is reproduced in the newspaper advertisement and compared by the Gazette office.

Step 3 — Visit a Notary Public

Go to a Notary Public with the printed, undated affidavit. Sign it in their presence. Any affidavit signed prior to the visit is not duly notarized. The notary will confirm your identity (Aadhaar or PAN) and sign the document, placing his official seal and registration stamp. Notaries can be found close to Civil Courts, Sub-Registrar offices, and BDA offices in Bengaluru.

Step 4 — Book Name Change Ads

Newspaper agencies need your name and address before they will publish, and they verify this by the notarized affidavit. A single English paper and one Kannada paper are obligatory to the change of name procedure in Karnataka.

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Specific Scenarios

How to draft a name change affidavit format Karnataka for a minor?

The affidavit is signed by the parent or legal guardian. It is in a different form: "I, [Name of Parent], father/mother of [Old Name of Minor], hereby declare that my child is renamed with a new name [New Name of Minor]." Include the birth certificate of the minor as an appendix.

Three Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

• Retain Originals: Retain the original affidavit which is notarized. It is needed in the Karnataka Gazette application. A photocopy would not work as a substitute.
• Consistency is Imperative: Your name in your affidavit should be the same name in your newspaper advertisement and the same name in the Gazette portal form.
• Validity: The affidavit must be less than six months old when submitted in most institutions, such as the Passport Office. File promptly.

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FAQs: Name Change Affidavit Format Karnataka