Hyphenation or surnames blending together is increasingly becoming popular. It is usually done after marriage, after divorce or due to personal and cultural reasons. It assists them in maintaining the two family names united to form a new surname, which symbolizes their identity and heritage.

India:To change your name by adding or hyphenating your surname, you have to undergo a legal procedure. This makes sure that your new name is legally recognized by all government and non government institutions. The following is an easy guide to get the steps.

The reasons why people or families adopt to combine or hyphenate their surnames include:

• Marriage or Divorce: One of the most frequent reasons to merge or hyphenate surnames is marriage, as couples would like to unite their family names. Other people also adopt their maiden name together with their previous spouse’s surname after a divorce.
• Cultural or Personal Identity: Other individuals combine their last names with hyphens to give credit to both families, particularly where both surnames have cultural, traditional or personal significance.
• Gender Equality: Gender equality can also be demonstrated by hyphenation of surnames because it gives the same significance to the family names of both partners.
• Professional or Social Identity: Others will hyphenate their surname to be used in their workplace, particularly when they are already well known by their previous surname in their career or social world.

A hyphenated surname is a combination of two or more family names with a hyphen. Couples usually use it to blend their last names to form one name, which reflects both families. Although it is widely believed to be a woman retaining her maiden name followed by the surname of her husband, anyone, either one or both parties are free to hyphenate their name.

In addition to divorce, hyphenated surnames can be adopted by people after a divorce, changing the name of one of the parents, or simply as a tribute to both families. To illustrate, a woman may not change her maiden name on marriage, or a couple may mix up a bit of family name into one hyphenated surname.

Hyphenating a surname allows individuals to retain their own identity whilst simultaneously respecting their family or cultural heritage. Making the legal transition to a hyphenated surname is the same procedure as any other name change, and it necessitates changes in official records including birth certificates, passports, and social security documents.

The following are common reasons for adopting a hyphenated surname:

• Marriage: Parties have the option of combining their surnames to create one common surname.
• Divorce or Separation: One or both partners can use a hyphenated surname containing their birth family surname.
• Cultural or Identity Reasons: Hyphenation of last names may be done on personal, cultural, or work grounds such as protecting their family heritage.

To join or hyphenate your family name in India, one has to take a legal procedure which is required to make the new name appear on legal documents like Aadhaar, passport, bank accounts, and other documents. The steps are roughly as follows:

• Prepare a Notarized Affidavit: To begin with the process, you will have to make a notarized name change affidavit that outlines:
  • Your current surname and the new combined or hyphenated surname.
  • The affidavit must contain the reason for the change of surname (e.g., marriage, divorce, personal choice).
  • The full names of both people involved, such as in a marriage or family name change.
  • The affidavit must be signed in front of a notary public and it must be signed by two witnesses.
• Publish Name Change Notice in Newspapers: After the name change affidavit is done you will have to publish a name change advertisement in two newspapers:
  • One in a local newspaper (published in the regional language).
  • One in a national English daily (published in English across the country, e.g., The Times of India).
  Publishing your name change in newspapers acts as a public notice and makes the process transparent.
• Apply for Gazette Notification: After your name change is published in newspapers, you can apply for a Gazette notification. The Gazette is the official government record that legally validates your new name by all government and private institutions across the country.
• Submit Documents to Relevant Authorities: After your new name appears in the Gazette, you need to submit the following documents to update it in your official records:
  • The notarized affidavit of name change.
  • Newspaper clippings of your name change advertisements.
  • The Gazette notification.
  • Identification documents (Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, etc.).
  • Any other forms that might be required, such as your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
• Update Your Official Records: Once your change of name is registered by Gazette, you may change it on all your official documents:
  • Government records: Aadhaar card, voter ID, PAN card, passport, and driving license.
  • Educational records: School certificates, degree certificates, and transcripts.
  • Financial records: Bank accounts, insurance policies, and other financial records.
  • Employment records: Notify your employer and HR to update your new name in payroll and records.

In order to legally change your surname to a combined or hyphenated one, you normally require the following:

• Notarized Affidavit: It must contain your old and new surname(s) and the reason behind the change.
• Newspaper Advertisements: Newspaper clippings showing your name change notice published in both a local and a national English newspaper as proof.
• Gazette Notification: Copy of the Gazette Notification as it legally validates your name change.
• ID Proof: Copies of government-issued identification such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, or voter ID.
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable): If your surname is changing because of marriage or divorce, you may need to provide your marriage certificate or your divorce decree.
• Other Supporting Documents: Depending on your situation, you may also need documents like adoption papers, family ID proofs, or cultural certificates.

Name change depends on the cost and time depending on the location, complexity, and service providers. The cost breakdown may be estimated as follows:

• Affidavit Preparation: ₹100–₹500 (for notary services).
• Newspaper Publication: ₹1,000–₹3,000 (local and national newspapers).
• Gazette Notification: ₹1,500–₹2,500 (government fee).
• Document Updates: ₹500–₹1,500 (depending on the institution).
• Legal Assistance: ₹3,000–₹10,000 (optional, for professional legal assistance).

The entire procedure typically spans 2–3 months, consisting of newspaper advertisements, Gazette notification, and amending official documents.