Name Change
Legal name change through affidavit, newspaper notices and publication in the Official Gazette of India, with documents updated afterwards.
- Estimate Cost
- ₹2,500 – ₹8,000
- Typical duration
- 60 days
Service overview
- A legal name change officially replaces your old name with a new one in public records
- In India it is done by a sworn affidavit, a public notice in newspapers and a notification in the Gazette of India, which becomes the authoritative proof
- With the Gazette in hand you can update Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, bank accounts and other records
Who needs it? / When is it needed?
- You want to change your first name, surname or full name, or correct a spelling.
- You have married, divorced or been widowed and want to change your surname.
- You are changing your name for personal, religious, professional or numerology reasons.
- You want to change your minor child's name.
- Your records show different spellings and you need one official name everywhere.
What to expect from the WCP Professionals
- Choose the right route. WCP professionals ask why you are changing the name and select the route: Gazette for a general change, an additional undertaking for a change of religion or surname, a deed for government employees, and the guardian route for a minor.
- Audit every record. WCP professionals list each document carrying your name (school, PAN, Aadhaar, passport, bank, insurance, property) and plan one clean sequence of updates around the new name.
- Draft the affidavit carefully - old and new name, parent's or spouse's name, address, reason and a declaration that the change is not for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose - dated before the newspaper notice.
- Publish correctly. WCP professionals prepare the notice text, arrange publication in the required newspapers and preserve the original clippings.
- File a complete Gazette application - proforma with two witnesses, soft copy, certificate, ID and photographs - and pay the fee. An incomplete file is the main cause of delay or rejection.
Key deliverables
- Notarised name-change affidavit and undertaking
- Newspaper notice text and publication arrangement
- Gazette notification of your name change
- Application set in the Department's required format
- Checklist for updating Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID and bank records
- Guardian-route application for a minor
Standard turnaround time
About 2 to 4 working days to prepare and file the affidavit, notice and application. Gazette publication follows the Department's cycle and typically takes several weeks, up to about 2 to 3 months from a complete filing.
Government fees, timelines & key outcomes
- Department of Publication fee: about Rs. 1,100 for adults ad 1700 for minors; higher for foreign citizens and Indians abroad. The schedule is revised from time to time, so WCP professionals confirm the current amount at filing.
- Affidavit, notary, stamp paper and newspaper charges are separate (indicatively Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 5,000 in total, depending on newspaper and city).
- Timeline: several weeks to about 3 months for publication.
- Key outcome: your new name in the Gazette of India. The Gazette itself does not change Aadhaar or PAN; each agency updates on your request.
Forms & filings involved
- Affidavit / undertaking sworn before a Notary Public or First Class Magistrate
- Newspaper advertisement and retained original clippings
- Gazette application with typed proforma signed by two witnesses, soft copy and matching-copy certificate
- Fee payment to the Department of Publication
Documents required
- Identity and address proof
- Proof of existing name (school certificate, birth certificate, passport)
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree, if relevant
- Self-attested passport-size photographs
- Original newspaper clippings
- Notarised affidavit on stamp paper
- For a minor: birth certificate, guardian's ID and undertaking
- Existing documents that need the new name
What we need from you
- The exact date, time, place of birth and hospital or attendant's name
- Both parents' Aadhaar numbers
- Your presence for the affidavit and any verification
- Careful checking of all name spellings before filing
Important conditions
- A name change cannot be made for fraudulent, unlawful or evasive purposes; the Gazette is a public record.
- Incomplete, inconsistent or wrongly formatted applications may be rejected.
Additional information
- Passport offices generally ask for the Gazette notification; Aadhaar and PAN accept it as strong supporting proof.
- For a minor, only the guardian can apply, and documents must be no more than a year old.
The estimated cost covers indicative professional fees only. Government fees, stamp duty and taxes are payable at actuals.
How it works
- 1. Raise a service enquiry describing your requirement.
- 2. A Relationship Manager reviews it and opens it for bidding.
- 3. Pay into escrow and assign the professional you select.
- 4. Track progress to completion, then accept and release payment.
Frequently asked questions
Is gazette publication necessary for a name change?
For a legally recognised change, yes — passport offices, banks and many authorities accept the gazette notification as conclusive proof.
How long does gazette publication take?
Preparation takes a few days; publication follows the Department of Publication's cycle and usually takes several weeks to two or three months.
Can a woman change her surname after marriage without a gazette?
For many documents a marriage certificate is enough, but a gazette notification avoids mismatches across records.
What documents are updated after a name change?
PAN, Aadhaar, passport, bank accounts, educational records and any other identity documents.