Procedure to change the surname without altering the certificates

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Hello,

You need to do the following three things in order to get your surname changed.

1. Affidavit: Approach your local Notary and make an affidavit regarding change of your surname. The affidavit must mention the current surname and the desired surname, and you need to mention in brief the reason for the surname change. The affidavit must be made on a Non-Judicial stamp paper of minimal value.

2. Newspaper Publication: The next step is to publish advertisement in newspaper announcing your surname change in two local newspapers – one in the local official language and another in English.

3. Gazette Notification: The last thing which you need to do is to get your surname published in the Official Gazette of your state. For this purpose, you need to approach the Government Press of your state and fill up the form for the same and pay the prescribed fees. Your surname change notification will be published in the state’s Official Gazette and you will be informed accordingly.

With Gazette notification, your surname change is completed. You can now apply for the surname change in all other official documents by providing copies of the notarized affidavit, newspaper ad and Gazette Notification as proof of surname change. However, It may take a month or more to change your surname legally in India.

Hope this helps.

Advocate B. Srikiran LawRato