Legal steps to change a name

If you want to change your own name, or correct a child’s name on official records, the process in India usually follows three steps. Here it is in plain language.

1. Make an affidavit

Prepare a sworn statement (affidavit) on stamp paper before a notary. It states your old name, your new name, and the reason for the change. This is the document most other offices will ask for.

2. Publish in a newspaper

Announce the change in two newspapers — typically one English and one in your regional language. Keep copies; they are proof that the change was made public.

3. Notify in the Official Gazette

Submit the change for publication in the government Gazette (state or central). The Gazette notification is the strongest legal evidence of the name change, and many institutions treat it as conclusive.

Then update your records

• Aadhaar and PAN
• Passport, voter ID, and driving licence
• Bank accounts and educational certificates

This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and change over time — confirm the current procedure with the relevant authority or a qualified lawyer before you begin.