Name Change

Gazette Notification is considered to be an important document for name change. Without this, it is very difficult to get official legal recognition for the new name. Once your name is published in the Gazette Notification, then you can update the name in all the important documents like PAN Card, Aadhar Card, etc.

The process of applying for Maharashtra gazette name change is quite easy. You can apply online as well as offline. First of all, you have to prepare an affidavit. Later, you have to publish the name change notification in the local and national language newspaper. Then you can go to the gazette Maharashtra office and submit the application. You have to take all the necessary documents with you.

In India, Gazette Certificate acts as a legal proof and gives you the right to use the new name legally. The process of applying for Gazette Notification in Maharashtra is quite easy. Once your name is published in the Gazette Notification, then you get legal recognition of the new name. Then you can update it in the official records.

Once you have applied for Gazette Notification, then you can check your status through the official website. To check, visit the official DGPS Maharashtra or other regional gazette portal. Later you can search your name in the database and check the status of the application.

With the release of name change online service in India, you can apply for name change. First of all, you have to prepare an affidavit. In the affidavit, you have to mention all the necessary information like your old name, new name and reason. The affidavit has to be notarized. Apart from this, you can download the affidavit format through the online platform. Later, you can apply for a name change.

After the affidavit is ready, the second step is to publish an advertisement in the local and national language newspaper. For that, you can contact the newspaper agency or book an online newspaper advertisement. It is very important to enter important information in the advertisement such as your old name, new name, affidavit details and all other necessary information in the advertisement.

Gazette is very important to give legal recognition to your new name. You can apply for the gazette notification and in this form, you should also have personal information such as your old name, new name and notarized affidavit. After attaching all the supporting documents to the application form, you can submit the application by visiting the office or you can also do it online.

To change your name, you can avail online services or you can take the help of a name change consultant. Many steps of the name change process in India can now be done online. So, after preparing the affidavit and then publishing the advertisement in the newspaper, you can easily apply by visiting online portals like DGPS Maharashtra website.

Once your name is published in the gazette notification, you apply after preparing the affidavit, publishing the advertisement in the newspaper and filling the name change form. After your name is published in the gazette notification, you can officially update your new name in all the required documents like changing and correcting the spelling of your name.

There are some big newspapers which provide better service keeping in mind the ad content and sometimes newspaper format is followed in them. Your new name, old name and all the necessary information should be mentioned in the ad. While giving the ad, you can get all the necessary information from the newspaper agency and later you can publish the ad.

If the citizens living in Maharashtra want to change the name then first of all you should contact DGPS Maharashtra (Directorate of Government Printing & Stationery) which is the governing body responsible for handling the gazette notification. Apart from this you can contact it till the gazette is issued or you can also submit the application. In this office you will get the complete information about name change.

Changing names after marriage is very important for some women because after marriage their husband's surname is used. For that you can take help of a name change consultant or you can apply for state gazette notification. Affidavit has to be prepared on the day of advertisement publication and later you can easily apply and change name after marriage.

The legal way to change your name in India has three steps which are an affidavit, a newspaper publication and a Gazette notification. The first step will be preparing a notarized affidavit of your old and new names and the reason why you want to change. This should be announced publicly by publishing this information in one English and one regional language newspaper. Lastly, get all the documents, including a CD of your typed declaration, to the Department of Publication to be published in the Gazette of India (Part IV). This Gazette entry is your legally recognized proof of name change and it is accepted by government offices, banks and legal offices all over in India

Though not obligatory in all institutions, Gazette publication is not only recommended, but also in many cases, it is mandatory to update your name in other important documents of the government, like PAN, Aadhaar, Passport and employment records. A Gazette notification is a Governmental sanction to your name change and is legally binding and under Indian Evidence Act. This is quite imperative to those who seek entry into immigration, the central government jobs or court related issues where validated documents are demanded

Any Indian citizen such as a minor, married women, divorced persons and NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) may apply for a name change under the Gazette. In the scenario of minors, it has to be a parent or legal guardian who has to file the application. NRIs should have attested affidavit of the Indian embassy or Consulate and their foreign address and copy of the passport. Married women normally request to be renamed by their husband’s surname and the rest are allowed to change their names because of divorce, religion, gender identity affirmation or because of preference

In India, the most frequent causes of a legal name change are marriage (change of surname), divorce (reversion to maiden name), gender identity changes, numerology or astrology-based name changes, religious conversions, spelling corrections, or personal rebranding. All these reasons are not unlawful, as long as the person is providing the relevant documentation and undergoing the Gazette name change process. The reason must always be mentioned in an affidavit to support legal name change

To apply for a name change in the Gazette, you will need the following:

• Notarized affidavit with your old and new name and reason for the change
• Two newspaper clippings (one regional and one national) showing your name change announcement
• Identity and address proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, etc.)
• Two recent passport-size photos
• A declaration letter and covering letter
• CD/USB containing the typed declaration in Word format
• Application fee via Indian Postal Order or Demand Draft addressed to the Controller of Publications

Some of the most frequent causes of rejection include missing or improperly formatted documents and hence make sure everything is well prepared

The Gazette name change process usually takes between 25 to 45 working days after the receipt of the application by the Department of Publication. Document preparation, such as affidavit notarization and newspaper publication, etc., typically needs 3-5 days. When the form is proper and filled in, your new name will be published in the Gazette Part IV issue, which is issued at regular intervals (each week, normally on a Saturday). After it has been published, the Gazette copy can be downloaded online and utilized to receive all legal and institutional updates

Yes, you can use your Gazette notification as the main legal document to renew your Aadhaar card, PAN card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving License and even educational certificates. Some of the supporting documents may be mandatory in every institution like the original affidavit or newspaper ad and the Gazette copy. Nevertheless, the Gazette publication is generally accepted as adequate evidence in most institutions provided that it is used along with a valid ID with the former name

Yes, a legal name change by Gazette publication is also open to minors. In either scenario, a parent or a legal guardian has to be the one who initiates the process. You will also require the minor’s birth certificate, a school ID card or bonafide certificate and the iparent’s identity proof in addition to the regular documents. The reason as to why the name change took place and the relationship with the child should be stated in the affidavit. After publication in the Gazette, the name may be corrected in school registers, Aadhaar and other documents

Yes, the process of changing name among NRIs or Indians in other countries is legally possible through Indian Gazette system as long as one holds Indian citizenship. The Indian Embassy or Indian Consulate in the country of residence must attest the affidavit. They are also required to send a copy of their Indian passport, overseas residence proof and add international return courier details in case they need to get their copy in paper. The Gazette publication could consequently be utilized in name change documentation in any part of the world

No. The Gazette notification will be taken as a permanent and legally valid document after publication. You can use it as a lifetime evidence of your name change. Some institutions (such as banks or visa offices) might also require a copy of your Gazette publication (recent), or supporting documents, in cases where your Gazette publication is a number of years old and has not been updated in all the records

In India, the legal name change process has several stages that include an affidavit, publication in the newspaper and Gazette notification. The first one is to file a notarized affidavit indicating the old and new name and the purpose of the change. Secondly, the name change should be advertised in a single English and a single newspaper in the regional language. Lastly, then send all the documents to the Department of Publication to be published in Gazette of India. Gazette notification is the legally accepted evidence of change of name and is accepted by all government offices and government institutions in India

Although not all institutions need a Gazette publication, it is extremely advisable to use Gazette publications to help update some of the important government documents like PAN, Aadhaar, Passport and Voter ID. A Gazette name change notification is a legal government confirmation of your name change and it is essential when seeking immigration, government employment or in legal procedures

Any Indian citizen even the minors, married women, divorced citizens, and NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) can make an application for a name change in Gazette of India. Initiation of the process is by minors who should have a parent or a guardian and a certified affidavit by the Indian Embassy is mandatory in NRIs. The processes of name change are open to people who change their names because of marriage, divorce, conversion to another religion, gender change preference, or general choice

In India, the most common reasons leading to a legal name change are; marriage (surname change), divorce (reverting to maiden name), gender identity change, numerology or astrology-based name change, religious conversion, spelling correction or personal rebranding. All these reasons are legally acknowledged, although correct documentation and name change procedure should be carried out, even a name change affidavit should be submitted

The required documents for the name change process include:

• Notarized affidavit for name change with the old and new name and reason for the change
• Two newspaper advertisements (one in a regional language and one in English) announcing the name change
• Proof of identity and address (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, etc.)
• Two passport-sized photographs
• Declaration letter and covering letter
• A CD/USB containing the typed declaration in Word format
• Application fee via Indian Postal Order or Demand Draft

The name change process can largely consume 25 to 45 working days. Once your application is received, this will be done and the name change announced in the weekly Gazette Part IV. Gazette name change notification is also available online and can be used to update your name in a number of documents

Yes, the Gazette notification is official evidence of your legal name change and may be taken to update your Aadhaar card, PAN card, Passport and other forms of official records. Majority institutes take the Gazette name change as good evidence, with the original affidavit and newspaper cuttings

Yes, a minor child can apply for name change by the Gazette of India. The parent or legal guardian must in these situations start the process, by providing the certificate of birth of the minor and proving his or her identity together with affidavit indicating the reason why the minor should change his or her name

Yes, the Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are allowed to change their names legally in the Gazette name change system. They have to send an affidavit certified by the Indian Embassy or an Indian Consulate and should also include their overseas address and copy of passport. The Gazette name change notice will be considered as applicable to all the parts of the world upon publication

No, notification to Gazette name change has no expiry date. After publication, it becomes life-long. Nonetheless, certain organizations might insist on a more recent Gazette publication or other supporting material in case the name change was not reflected in their books of account over a few years

Even when engaged in a legal process, it is possible to change your name. You should however, inform the concerned legal authorities and submit the Gazette notification to correct your name in the court records. This is to make sure that all legal documents are registered in your new name

Yes, it is possible to change only your surname and keep first name the same even legally. The name change process has not changed, only the surname needs to be changed, and you will have to go through the same procedure by filing a Gazette name change application

The cost of a name change via the Gazette incorporates the notarization fee of the affidavit, newspaper advertisement fee, and a fee to be paid to the application of submitting the documents. The cost of Gazette name change applications is ₹500 to ₹300 on average. Other expenses could be incurred in notarization and courier

Yes, religious or spiritual name change that is, adoption of a new name following a religious conversion is legally admissible in India. The name change procedure should be done according to the same procedure and the affidavit should state the purpose of the change like religious conversion certificate

After your name change has been done, you can access the Gazette of India (Part IV) online. The Gazette name change is usually issued on weekly basis and you can confirm your name in the official document by visiting the Department of Publication website

In case of a mistake despite the published name change in the Gazette, then correction can be requested. This is normally done by filing a formal request to the department of publication and other supporting documents as to why the mistake occurred. This will be corrected by a later edition of the Gazette

Yes, you have to give a proper explanation of your name change in the affidavit as a legal process. The acceptable reasons are marriage, divorce, personal preference, numerology, gender transition and so on. The reason must be put in a veritable and plain manner so that there is no problem with your name change application