An affidavit to change one’s name is a document which helps one prove their identity once they change their name or if a woman changes her surname after her marriage. It becomes important to have a procedure to legalise changes in their names in order for their new name to gain recognition.
Reasons for changing the name:
These days changing the name has become a usual thing. Some people change their names for numerological or astrological purposes and it is common for married women in some religion to change their last name after marriage. In that case, married women should provide their old name with father’s name and address, and the new name with husband’s name and address.
Such an affidavit to change one’s name can be of different types:
- The name change affidavit is used to change one’s name legally in all documents and to further publish the same.
- A change in the maiden name after marriage, an affidavit is used by a lady applicant who wants to change her maiden name after marriage to use the new name in all her documents.
- A one and the same person affidavit acts as a multi-name affidavit, it proves that the names mentioned in the affidavit belong to the same person and either can be used in their documents.
Requirements for name change affidavit
The minimum requirements for a name change affidavit are:
- the details of the person’s old name and the new name,
- their current address,
- reason for changing their name,
- two passport size photographs,
- any government issued valid ID proof like PAN, Aadhar, etc.
- the affidavit has to be made on a plain stamp paper of the prescribed value as assigned by the notary, and
- need signature of two witnesses.
Such document then has to be submitted to the notary and get it sealed by him. The basic cost of making such an affidavit dependent on the stamp paper denomination as prescribed by the stamp duty of that particular state.