
How to Legally Rename in India? in Rs.999 – Legally Change Your Name
India is seeing an increase in the number of legal renamings. It is done for various reasons such as better representation, change in family dynamics, marriage, etc. In India, legally renaming is a process that requires a properly documented process.
If someone changes their name on bank accounts, ID cards, Aadhar cards, and other legal documents, they must officially change their name to be considered legal in India.
In this article, we will discuss the Document required, Reasons, Benefits, affidavit for a name change, Process to change the name, Process to publish Gazette Notification, and What to do after a name change to legally rename in India. By contacting Yourdoorstep, an applicant can legally rename in India while sitting at home.
How to Legally rename in India?
In order to legally rename India, it is important to have the right documents, and the proper procedures must be followed. After the legal name change has been cleared, updating the name on all identity documents to reflect the new name is important. This includes Aadhaar Card, Passport, Driving License, Voter ID, Bank Account, Share Certificate, PAN Card, and Ration Card.
Getting a Gazette Notification published in the government gazette for legal recognition of the name change is also important. It is a document that acts as definitive proof of name change.
After the name change, it is important to get it notarized and updated in all documents, such as security held, Dormant shares, limit orders, etc.
People should also ensure that documents such as utility bills, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc., are updated with the new name. Finally, it is important to update all the relevant information online, such as social media accounts, email addresses, and other accounts that reflect the new name.
With the right documents and procedures, individuals in India can legally change their names and gain legal recognition.
Name Change Procedure in India
In addition to the Process of legally renaming in India, a few other steps need to be taken before and after the legal name change. It is important to get a stamp paper of a certain value depending on the state where the individual resides.
The affidavit for name change should be written duly and contain all the details related to the change of name, address, and purpose. The affidavit should then be signed in the presence of a notary public or a court of law and considered to be an official document.
The documents required for name change must be submitted to the concerned office, which will then process them and publish a notification in the Official Gazette of the Government. It is also important to keep in mind that the name change should not be done for any illegal or fraudulent purpose.
Also, after changing the name, it is important to update the government databases and organizations with the new name. All the documents that are connected to the person’s identity must be updated with the new name as soon as possible. This includes airline tickets, PAN cards, bank accounts, credit cards, memberships, and other documents that might need to be updated.
Individuals must also update the name on their social media accounts, email addresses, and other accounts that might have been registered under the old name.
The financial records should also be updated with the new name, and the old name should no longer be used for any banking purposes. It is essential to update the name in the share certificate and other documents required for the ownership of securities.

Documents Required For Legally Rename in India
The first step to legally rename India is to collect all the documents that you need to prove your identity and change the name in the required documents. Documents required for renaming are valid identity proof like a passport, PAN Card, and other government-issued ID cards. The different documents needed are discussed below:
- Passport: A passport is the most basic and important document that is required for any sort of change, including a name change in your passport.
- Driving License: If you have a driving license, then you need to change the name on this document too.
- Aadhaar Card: Aadhaar Card is another important document that needs to be updated when you rename it.
- Pan Card: It is mandatory to change the name appearing in the Pan card.
- Voter ID: It is important to update the name in the voter id card when you rename it.
- Ration Card: The name in the ration card has to be updated in case of rename.
- Share Certificate: The change in name must be updated in the share certificate.
- Bank Account: It is mandatory to change the name in your bank account.
- Any other document: Other documents, such as insurance, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc., may also need to be updated in the case of rename.

Reasons For Change Your Name in India
There can be multiple reasons for changing one’s name:
- Divorce: Divorce is one of the most common reasons for renaming. People who are recently divorced need to change their name to their new one legally.
- Marriage: Couples getting married might rename to combine their surnames and show marriage unity.
- Spellings: Some people might want to change the spelling of their name to indicate their surname, middle name, or their religion.
- Adoption or foster care: Children who are adopted or are fostered also change their names to reflect their new families’ names.
- Other reasons: People might change their names for personal reasons or for name corrections.
Benefits of Following the Legal Procedure for Renaming in India
Renaming is not only a symbol of identity and affirmation of a new start but can also be beneficial for many reasons.
- Legal protection: Renaming protects your identity from fraud, theft, or other legal complications or misunderstandings. The government also takes extra measures to ensure the safety of people’s identities through its name-change policies.
- Social benefits: Legal name change acts as an identifier that is accepted by societies, government offices, and places of work. This identifies you as an individual with a legal record of your name in comparison to a nickname or an alias.
- Personal gratification: Names carry a lot of sentiment attached to them. People who divorce or change their names for any other reason gain personal gratification attached to their new identity, away from the struggles of the past.
Name change Affidavit
First make an affidavit for name change. An affidavit for the name change is a legal document that signifies your intent to change your name and the details of your old and new names. This document is signed in the presence of a notary public or a court of law and is considered to be an official document. It acts as proof of identity and is used as an important document when it comes to legally changing your name.
The affidavit for name change should be written duly and must contain all the details related to your change in name, address, and purpose of the name change. Generally, the format of the affidavit is mentioned below:
- Name of affiant :
- Address of affiant :
- Occupation of affiant :
- Last name prior to change :
- New last name to be used :
- Purpose of name change :
- Signature of affiant :
- Date of signature:
- Signature of notary public/court of law:
Process to Change Name Online in India
There are several steps involved in the Process of legally changing your name. The steps include:
Step 1: Obtain a name change application. This document is usually obtained from the state or county office or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
Step 2: Fill out the application and provide all the necessary information. This includes details about your current name, address, preferred new name, and your reasons for wanting to change your name.
Step 3: File the application with the clerk of courts in the county where you live or at the courthouse.
Step 4: After filing the application, you will need to publish a notice of the name change in the local newspaper.
Step 5: Get a certified copy of the court order for your name change from the clerk’s office.
Process for Gazette Publication
After filing the application and publishing a name change advertisement in the newspaper, it is necessary to publish a name change notification in the Official Gazette of the government. Publishing a Government Gazette is a legal process that confers official recognition of a name change. It serves as proof of the name change and is often needed for identification purposes.
The Gazette notice consists of an affidavit with the individual’s old and new name, address, age, and occupation. This document is required to be submitted in duplicate, signed by the individual, and attested by a notary public or a court of law. Once the Gazette notice is published, a certificate of publication is issued to the individual, which acts as a valid document to the name change.
What to do after Name Change?
Once the name is changed legally through the processes mentioned above, it is important to make sure that the name change is reflected in all your legal documents as well.
- Aadhaar Card: You will need to update your new name on your Aadhaar card.
- Passport: You need to update the passport with the new name and also add a passport name change endorsement page in your passport.
- Driving License: Your driving license needs to be updated with the new name.
- Voter ID: You need to change the name on the voter ID as well.
- Bank Account: Your bank account must be updated with the new name.
- Share Certificate: The change in name must also be updated in the share certificate.
- Pan Card: It is important to change the name appearing in the Pan card.
- Ration Card: The name in ration card also has to be updated in case of rename.
Conclusion
Legally renaming in India requires several documented processes. Choosing to legally change your name as an individual is a matter of personal preference, and it should be done in a responsible manner. If you are renaming for the right reasons, then the procedures mentioned in this article should be taken to legally rename in India.
Legal renaming can be a daunting process, but with the right documents and procedures, individuals in India can legally change their names and gain legal recognition.
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