How to Change Surname After Marriage
Complete Information on Changing Surname After Marriage
These days, young couples prefer to add their husband’s surname to theirs after marriage. However, to legally implement this process, it’s necessary to change the name on all documents after marriage. This process first involves creating a surname certificate, which will include your husband’s surname alongside yours, and providing proof of that name. This proof will then be used to change your name on all your documents. This blog provides complete information about your Surname change after marriage, from documents to certificates.
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How to Add Your Husband's Surname After Marriage?
Information on the Process of Adding Your Husband's Surname
To obtain a marriage certificate, you must register online or visit the registrar’s office. To register a marriage, you must submit documents such as proof of identity (e.g., Aadhaar card, passport), proof of address (address proof), date of birth (DOB proof) for both spouses, and proof of marriage (e.g., wedding photos, priest’s certificate). Two witnesses are also required. If you apply online, you will receive a date to submit your documents to the registrar. After verification, a marriage certificate is issued within a few days.
How to Get a Marriage Certificate?
Information on Obtaining a Marriage Certificate After Marriage
To obtain a marriage certificate, you must register online or visit the registrar’s office. To register a marriage, you must submit documents such as proof of identity (e.g., Aadhaar card, passport), proof of address (address proof), date of birth (DOB proof) for both spouses, and proof of marriage (e.g., wedding photos, priest’s certificate). Two witnesses are also required. If you apply online, you will receive a date to submit your documents to the registrar. After verification, a marriage certificate is issued within a few days.
How to publish a name change in a gazette notification?
Information on the Process of Adding Your Husband's Surname
Add your husband’s surname to your name. Prepare an affidavit with this new name. Then, publish the name change in your state’s local newspaper. Then, submit your name change application along with your affidavit, the website, the digital format, your Aadhaar card, your marriage certificate, your husband’s Aadhaar card, passport-size photographs of the couple, and other documents to the gazette office for publication. After document verification, the name change will be published in a gazette notification.
Once your marriage certificate and the gazette notification with your new name are ready, you can use these two documents to change your name on all your documents, making your new name legally valid. It’s important to change your name on your identity card first, as they are required everywhere. Use the documents below to begin the name change process after your marriage.
- Aadhaar Card – Visit your nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra and fill out the name change after marriage form. Submit the form along with other documents, such as your gazette notification and marriage certificate, and your existing Aadhaar card. After submitting the form, pay the processing fee. Upon payment, you will receive a numbered receipt. You can use this number to track the processing of your Aadhaar card.
- Passport – To change name on passport, you must first reissue your passport through the official passport website. You will apply for the name change online and schedule an appointment. On the day of your appointment, you’ll need to submit all your documents, including your gazette notification and marriage certificate, your Aadhaar card, and your current passport. Once the documents are verified, your passport with the new name will be issued within a few days.
- PAN Card – To change name on PAN card, you’ll visit the official website and fill out the name correction form on your PAN card. After entering all your information, you’ll enter your old and new names. You’ll also upload your documents, such as the gazette notification, marriage certificate, Aadhaar card, and other documents, and pay a processing fee. After the form is submitted, a PAN card with the new name will be sent to your address.
This document is the primary document, as it’s used everywhere, so changing the name on it is crucial. Gradually, you’ll be able to change your name on other documents as needed.
Conclusion
Nowadays, most women use their husband’s surname. However, some women change their names for various reasons, some change their entire name, or some simply misspell their name. In all these cases, the process for changing a name is the same, with a gazette notification being the most important requirement. The gazette notification process is different from other processes. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the gazette notification first after the marriage certificate is issued.
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People Also Asked
Changing your surname involves some important steps, such as getting an affidavit, publishing an advertisement in newspapers, and getting a gazette notification. This may take a total of 4 to 8 weeks, but it is important to update all your official documents.
To change your surname after marriage, you need to register your marriage, make a name change affidavit, give an advertisement in the newspaper, and then update the required documents like Aadhaar, PAN, passport and bank account, and use the marriage certificate and gazette notification as proof of identity.
Yes, you can change your last name after marriage, but it is a personal choice and not a legal requirement in many places, including India.
To change your surname, you generally need an Affidavit, Newspaper Ads, and the final Gazette Notification, and existing ID/Address Proofs (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport).
