It typically takes 15 to 30 days between the day you submit your application to the Gazette to the day your name change is published. But it might differ with the character of your case and the busy schedule of the Department of Publication.

Yes, you may change your name several times. Another Gazette notification will be required each time your name is changed. Change of name frequently may be subject to legal or administrative difficulties. You had better seek the advice of a legal professional before doing so.

When the Gazette announces your name change, the Gazette notice becomes effective during your lifetime and is the ultimate legal document to your change of name

If any kind of error appears in the Gazette notification, you must immediately reach out to the Department of Publication to request a correction. You may have to submit additional documents and pay extra charges for this correction.

Yes, it's mandatory to publish your name change advertisement in two newspapers, one in a national English daily and another in a local language, before you proceed for a Gazette notification.

A name change affidavit is a significant legal document, which not only brings to the fore the purpose of your name change, but also contains your old and new name. The notarized affidavit should have two witnesses who sign it. It is a necessary component of the whole name change process.

Depending on the nature of the application of the name change, and whether it is published in the state or central Gazette this may vary in fees. India Individual name changes cost between 1,100 and 3,650 INR.

The cost of publications in the Karnataka Gazette to change your name is as follows:

• Affidavit: ₹100–₹200
• Newspaper advertisements: ₹395–₹3,000 (publication-dependent)
• Gazette fees: ₹1,100–₹3,650

Any fees that you have pay can be made via demand draft, online (where possible) or by direct bank transfer to the account of the department. Please retain a receipt of payment as an indication of payment.

Yes, in addition to the Gazette notification fees, you will have to pay the applicable charges for preparing a name change notarized affidavit, newspaper advertisement charges and the charges of legal consultation in case you seek professional advice.

When your new name is announced in Gazette, then you should change the details of all your official documents (passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID, bank accounts, property records and driving licence) to your new name.

Yes, you can. You can enquire of the Department of Publication a copy of the Gazette notification. The official Gazette site also contains some of the Gazette notifications which you can download in PDF format to refer to later.

Yes, the Gazette notification is the final legal document that will legitimize your change of name. When changing your new name in the official records, it is accepted by all government organizations in the country, including the banks and other concerned authorities.

No, the fees you have paid for the Gazette publication are non-refundable, even if your application is rejected.

Yes, the NRIs can also apply for a name change in the Indian Gazette. The process is the same, but the NRIs may need to submit additional supporting documents as proof that they are residents overseas.

In India, some states and the central government offer online platforms for Gazette name change requests. However, not all regions have this facility, so it is advisable to check with the concerned department.

Should you be rejected you will be told why by the Department of Publication. Then you can take the matter up with the appropriate authority and rectify the matter and re-digest a Gazette notification.

Yes, you can change your name based on your numerological or astrological beliefs, but you must clearly mention the reason in the name change affidavit.

Yes, you can change the spelling of your name through a Gazette notification, especially if it is initiated to fix a spelling mistake or you are opting to change the spelling of your name depending on your astrological and numerological beliefs.

If the spelling of your name appears inaccurate in the Gazette, you cannot make any kind of direct corrections to fix it. You will have to apply for a reissue of the Gazette notification. You will have to make a fresh affidavit, newspaper ad, CD, and payment of fees. The entire process will take 25 to 45 working days.

The adults have no age restriction in general but in case the applicant is a minor then the name change of the minor in Gazette requires parental consent or court approval.

Yes, you can revert to your old name but you will have to undergo the same legal process and will have to reapply for a Gazette notification.

You will of course need to inform major departments, e.g. Income Tax Department, Passport Office, your bank and the Electoral Office, to keep your records in tune.

The process of changing the name in Gazette of India typically takes 25 to 45 working days depending on the amount of work and the fully filled forms of your documents.

The standard cost for a Gazette name change in India is ₹1,100, however special cases such as name changes after marriage/ remarriage divorce or for minors have higher costs.

The Gazette appears once per week, on average on Saturdays. After your new name appears in the Gazzate you will get a copy of the Gazette as a PDF file right at your email.

To download the Gazette, you can go to egazette.gov.in and then under the option of Search Gazette, you will find the section of Weekly Gazette and there you will find the particular issue then you have to download the PDF.

Yes, the Gazette of India bears the stamp of the Controller of Publications. It is easy to find a sample copy on the internet.

No, the Gazette is given in PDF format through email and it can be downloaded easily. It can also be printed according to your needs.

If the booking for the Gazette notification has not been completed, you can cancel your application within 30 minutes to 48 hours, subject to a ₹100 cancellation fee. The remaining amount paid will be refunded.

When you decide to change your name after marriage you will have to go through the same process as the other name changes. Note that the supporting documentation required is the same.

You will have to include the following documents with your application:

• Newspaper advertisements (one in a national English daily and another one in a local language).
• Notarized affidavit
• Two recent passport size photographs.
• An application letter addressed to the Controller of Publication.
• A specimen form for name change with one CD in MS-Word and signed declaration.

The online charges are:

• Adults: ₹1,100
• Minors: ₹1,700
• Divorce: ₹2,750
• Minor name change after divorce: ₹3,350

In case of a failure of your application because of an incomplete or wrong document, don't waste time to reapply. Get into touch with the department to address the problems and re-apply with the correct documents to prevent additional rejections.

Yes, we process Gazette applications for all major cities, such as Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, as well as the rest of India. Please feel free to contact us for more detailed information.

The central government employees must submit a ‘Deed for Change of Name’ and it must be approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Govt of India).

You might need to present all original documents including name change affidavit and newspaper clippings of your name change advertisement. But in practice, most of the time, just a copy of government-issued ID proofs can be used to do the whole process.

No, it will not have any impact on your ownership rights and contracts due to your name change. Nevertheless, you should update your new name on property deeds, legal documents and financial accounts.

The following are the list of most common reasons used to reject:

• Lack of thorough or suitable documentation.
• The ancient and the new names are not the same ones.
• Most of the times individuals do not go through a proper procedural Gazette.

Yes, you may apply the notification of Gazette internationally, because it is considered all over the world. It is applicable in revising your new name on significant documents including the passports. Other notarized papers or affidavits may also be necessary in addition to the Gazette notification in some countries.

Legally, one needs to prepare an affidavit, which is notarized, place an announcement of name change in two newspapers (one in English and other in Marathi) and get a Gazette notification. This renders the change as valid under the Indian and Maharashtra laws.

Although this is not compulsory in all scenarios, it is highly advisable in amending of large government documents like Aadhaar, PAN and passport. The Gazette is an official proof of law and is acceptable by the majority of government institutions.

The documents which should be provided are:

• A notarized affidavit
• Marriage certificate
• Newspaper advertisements
• Identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.)
• Proof of address
• Passport-size photographs
• Application fee

The final working days are usually 30-45 days, that is, the preparation of affidavits, newspaper advertisements, and Gazette. Gazette notification is issued every week after the submission.

Yes, once publication of your change of name is made in the Gazette, you are allowed to update your records in the government which include Aadhaar, PAN, passport, and voter ID against the Gazette notification.

Common reasons include:

• Marriage or Divorce: Especially surname changes
• Spelling Mistakes: Errors in existing documents
• Gender Reassignment: For gender transition
• Religious Conversion: Changing to reflect a new religion
• Personal Preferences: For numerology or other personal reasons
• Family Legacy: Adopting a family surname or tradition

Indeed, in India, NRIs are permitted to change their name after a marriage using the Gazette procedure. After publication, you are allowed to update your records in a foreign country based on local regulations.

Price usually comprises ₹1,100 Gazette notification fee, notarizing the affidavit fee and running the newspaper advertisements. There are other charges that can be charged on professional services.

Although this is not a prerequisite, a professional service may be hired to make sure that all documents are properly prepared and time will be saved instead of typical mistakes.

You may change your middle name, or make any corrections to any section of your name, by means of the Gazette process. Be sure that your affidavit states clearly the change.

Changing of name after marriage in the state of Maharashtra is done by preparing a notarized affidavit, advertisement in two newspapers (one in English and one in Marathi), and getting Gazette notification. The procedure will make your new name a legal person in all legal documents and records.

In Maharashtra, in order to change your name, you require the following:

• A signed document by the notarial signature purporting you had changed name as per your old name, new name and the purpose
• This is a marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of marriages
• Identity evidences (Aadhaar, PAN card, passport, etc.)
• Documents of residence (voter ID, utility bills, etc.)
• Two passport-sized photographs
• Advertisement clippings in newspapers (one in the English language and one in the Marathi language)
• CD/USB containing the affidavit in MS word format
• Application fee (₹1,100)

The change of name process in the Maharashtra incurs an average of 30-45 days of working time. This will be the time in loading the affidavit, placing the newspaper ads, and acquiring the Gazette notification.

Although the first steps, which include filling forms and going through guidelines, can be performed via the Internet, the name change process in Maharashtra must be provided offline. All the papers should be printed and submitted to the Department of Publication in New Delhi to be published in Gazettes.

In Maharashtra the fee to change name by Gazette normally consists of:

• Gazette notification fee: ₹1,100
• Newspaper advertisement fees: ₹800–₹2,000 per ad
• Notary fees: ₹100–₹500 for notarizing the affidavit
• Courier or agency fees (if applicable)

The overall costs tend to be ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 without the help of professionals.

Once you have published in Gazette, you will be able to change your new name in several government records including Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, and driving license. The Gazette notification will be the legal document where your new name is shown as the official one and is recognized by the majority of governmental institutions.

Yes, you have the legal right to change your name when you are not married in Maharashtra on the following reasons:

• Spelling mistakes in your current documents
• Religious conversion or gender transition
• Numerological or astrological reasons
• Personal preference or family legacy

It is done by filling a notarized affidavit, a newspaper advertisement, and a Gazette notification.

Yes, a parent or a legal guardian may apply to change the name of a child in Maharashtra by the same procedure including a notarized affidavit, advertisements in the newspapers and in Gazettes. Such documents as the birth certificate of the child, school ID number, and identity proof of the guardian are also necessary.

Although it is not compulsory to announce your name change in the Gazette on all occasions, it is strongly advisable to do so to make an update to the official government documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport etc. The Gazette is the legal journal and it is largely acceptable among the government departments.

Indeed, once you receive the Gazette notification to change your name, you will be able to change your name in all of your official records like Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, passport, bank accounts, and insurance policies. The legal documentation of your changed name is the Gazette notification.

In Maharashtra after publication of the change of name in the Gazette, you can download the official Gazette PDF in the e-Gazette site. This on-line platform enables you to view and print your Gazette notification so that you can use it in updating government documents.

Your application to change your name can be tracked online via the e-Gazette site. Entering your name and the date of publication, you can monitor the time when Gazette notification has been published. The personal notifications are not available and therefore it is essential to check regularly.

Yes, NRIs are allowed to change their names under the same procedure of Gazette in Maharashtra. They may change their name by a name change application at the Indian embassy or consulate and they will be able to update their record back in India and so in their home country.

The name change affidavit form in Maharashtra must be made on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper and it must include the following:

• Your old name, new name, and reason for the change
• The names of your parents or spouse, if applicable
• Your full address and contact details
• Both you and your spouse (if changing your surname) must sign the affidavit

The format is supposed to be in the form of instructions and it is required that the format should be notarized.

The same applies to the changing of names in a marriage certificate. When you have been printed in the Gazette you can ask the marriage certificate to be altered to include your new name at the local marriage registrar by sending the Gazette notification together with your supporting documents to him.