Changing your name on your birth certificate can prove to be a hassle. It’s like you are changing your whole identity. We know there are many reasons why you would want to do so. It could be astrological, or that you are getting married and want to adopt your spouse’s name. It could be due to some administrative error. But, in this article, I am going to describe all the steps that I followed on how to change name in birth certificate.
Significance of Birth Certificate
Well, a birth certificate is one of the most important certificates that you can have. I mean, it is the proof of the fact that you were actually born. On a serious note, it is essential for medical check-ups, government exams, school and job certificates, citizenship, inheritance, and much more.
In India, birth certificates are issued by the Local Municipal Corporation or gram panchayat. It depends on the location of the birth. The WHO (World Health Organization) along with the UN (United Nations) has mandated that every child should be issued a birth certificate to ensure them a lot of facilities in the future.
Steps to Change Name In the Birth Certificate
To get your official name updated on the birth certificate, follow these steps:
Fill Out the Form
To change the name on your birth certificate, you need to fill out the Birth Certificate Update/Correction form. There are two ways you can obtain the form:
- Visit the municipal corporation office or the gram panchayat at the location of the birth and request the form there or,
- Download the online form here.
Prepare an Affidavit
An affidavit needs to be prepared to change the name on the birth certificate. You need to contact a local notary and create an affidavit. The affidavit should include the current name, new name, and the reason for the change of name. Make sure to use a non-judicial stamp paper of minimal value for the affidavit.
Submission
Now fill up the Birth certificate update/correction form and attach the affidavit with it. Submit it to the respective District Court before a magistrate or present a certified copy with the original signature of a judge on it.
Verification Process
Once you have submitted all the documents and applications, the registrar present there will review those documents. If the documents are in order, then your request for name change is approved. However, if the request is denied then you have the option to file a writ of mandamus in the high court. This compels the registrar to explain the reasons behind possible rejection.
Publish Advertisement in Newspaper
Upon receiving the approval from the authorities, you are required to publish an advertisement regarding the name change in the newspaper as a public declaration. The advertisement should be in two newspapers:
- Local language and,
- English
Gazette Notification
Following this, you need to get your name published in the official gazette of your respective state. To do this, you need to contact the official government press of your respective state. You will be asked to submit documents like the newspaper advertisement, the affidavit, and a passport-size photograph.
Fill up the form and pay the required fees which will be around Rs.600 – Rs.800, depending on your state of residence. The state’s official Gazette will publish your name change notification. Consequently, you will also receive a copy of it at your current house address.
Follow-up
After submitting the application, you need to follow up the with Municipal authorities. Due to the presence of so many requests already, the process could take at least 21 days. The process usually involves the verification of documents and a police verification.
And that’s it! The Birth certificate with your updated name will be delivered to your address or can be collected directly from the office as well.
Documents required For Name Change
Here is a list of documents that are required to change the name on the birth certificate:
- Old birth certificate
- Address proof (Aadhar Card)
- Affidavit for name change
- Copies of newspaper advertisements
- Passport-size photographs (Clicked within 3 months)
Fee and Processing Time
The entire process costs around Rs.1000. This excludes the costs of newspaper advertisements as they vary from state to state.
The processing time for the entire procedure can take up to a month as only the publishing of the Gazette notification takes about 14 days.
Updating Parental Names In the Birth Certificate
In India, sometimes there are cases of adoption or scenarios that require a change in the parental status. For that, similar procedures apply for changing a parent’s name on the birth certificate. There would be a requirement for some additional documents like adoption registration and court orders.
Can You Change the Birth Name Online?
Some states in India do offer the facility for birth certificate correction online. However, it should be noted that while the states offer this facility online. Only initiation of the application can be done while sitting at home. To complete the process you need to visit the state’s gazette office for verification at least once.
It must be noted that you can only change/update the information on your birth certificate once, so make sure to put in the accurate information. After this, you will need to update all your documents like your Aadhaar card, passport, etc. Your name should be the same on all the documents otherwise, it could result in problems in the future.
Wrapping Up
Changing your name on the birth certificate is a very detailed process that requires changing names on all the documents. There could be many reasons why you would want to do that, but please make sure to make up a solid mind on it. It is a decision that can not be reversed. Talking about children, read about IHIP and the importance of vaccination.
In this article, we tried to guide you through each and every step required in the journey of how to change the name on your birth certificate. Your certificate is the most important part of your identity therefore make sure you keep it accurate.
