Gazette Name Change Publication
Change your legal name on record through an affidavit, newspaper notice and gazette publication.
Changing your legal name in India is not a single act but a sequence — an affidavit declaring the change, a notice published in newspapers, and publication in the Official Gazette. It is the gazette notification that gives the change public, official recognition and creates the record other authorities rely on.
People come to this for many reasons: correcting a spelling that has followed them since school, changing a surname after marriage or divorce, adopting a religious name, or resolving a mismatch between documents that is blocking a passport or a bank account.
What this costs
Personal
₹15,104 plus GST
- Affidavit Preparation
- Newspaper Advertisement
- CD Writing
The three steps, in order
Skipping a step or doing them out of order is the most common reason the process stalls, because each stage produces the document the next one needs.
- An affidavit sworn before a notary or magistrate, stating the old name, the new name and the reason
- Publication of the change in two newspapers — usually one English and one regional daily
- Application to the Government Press for publication in the Official Gazette, with the affidavit and newspaper cuttings annexed
What to update afterwards
The gazette notification is the authority for changing your name elsewhere, but nothing updates automatically. Each record has to be corrected separately.
- Aadhaar and PAN
- Passport, voter identity card and driving licence
- Bank accounts, and investment and demat accounts
- Educational certificates, where the institution permits correction
- Employment and provident fund records
- Property documents, insurance policies and utility connections
Minors and married women
For a minor, the application is made by the parents or guardian, and both parents’ consent is normally required along with the child’s birth certificate.
A woman changing her surname after marriage files the marriage certificate along with the affidavit. After divorce, reverting to a maiden name follows the same route with the decree annexed.
How we handle it
- 1 Drafting the affidavit The affidavit is drafted with the old name, the new name and the reason, and executed on stamp paper of the correct value.
- 2 Notarisation The affidavit is sworn before a notary or magistrate.
- 3 Newspaper publication The notice is published in two newspapers, and the original cuttings are preserved as proof.
- 4 Gazette application The application is filed with the Government Press along with the affidavit, cuttings and the prescribed fee.
- 5 Gazette notification The change is published in the Official Gazette and the notification copy is delivered to you.
- 6 Updating records We advise on the order in which to update your other documents, since some depend on others being corrected first.
Frequently asked questions
Is gazette publication compulsory?
For a change of name to be recognised officially and accepted by passport and government authorities, yes in practice. An affidavit alone is often not accepted where the change is substantial.
Can I change my name to anything?
Broadly yes, but not to a name intended to deceive, to impersonate someone, to evade a legal liability, or one that is obscene or offensive.
How long does the whole process take?
Allow six to twelve weeks end to end. The affidavit and newspaper stages are quick; gazette publication is the part that takes time and is outside anyone’s control.
Will my old certificates be reissued?
Not automatically, and many institutions will not reissue at all. Most will annotate the record or issue a corrected document on production of the gazette notification. Educational boards vary considerably.
Can I change a minor’s name?
Yes, through the parents or guardian. Both parents’ consent is usually required, along with the birth certificate.
What is not included. Government fees, statutory charges, stamp duty, court and registry fees, digital signature costs and any third-party professional charges are separate and payable at actuals. GST applies on professional fees where indicated. Prices shown are indicative and may change without notice; we confirm the total in writing before any work begins — see our terms on pricing.
Talk to us about Gazette Name Change Publication
Share your requirement and our team will confirm the documents needed, the exact charges and a realistic timeline — usually the same working day.
- Expert document checking before submission
- Regular status updates on WhatsApp
- Transparent professional charges
- Assistance in Marathi & English
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