How to get a new birth certificate after name change

By India Today Web Desk: A birth certificate is issued by the Municipal Corporation/Municipal Council in urban areas whereas in rural areas the authority is the Tehsildar at the Taluka level, while the authority at the village level is the Gram Panchayat Office. To change or update name in the birth certificate is not such a difficult task. You can get your name changed in the Birth Certificate by following the below stated simple steps.

Steps to change name in birth certificate:

Step 1: Obtain 'Birth Certificate Update/correction Form' the municipal corporation office or gram panchayat where your child took birth.

Step 2: Obtain an affidavit from local notary and approach the officer regarding change of name in the birth certificate. Make an affidavit on a non-judicial stamp paper of minimal and mention the reason of name change.

Step 3: Fill the correction form and submit it to the municipal corporation along with affidavit or certified copy with judge original signature.

Step 4: After the completion of the application process, publish the advertisement in the local newspaper and your state official Gazette publication.

How to get name change publication in official Gazette:

For the name change publication in official Gazette, you need to write an application letter to the Gazette office with supporting documents such as a copy of local newspaper advertisement, affidavit, passport size photo, and your application form.

Apart from this, here is the complete procedure for you to apply for your Birth Certificate.

Process to apply for a birth certificate

Step 1: Get a birth Certificate Registration Form from the registrar's office (from your municipal authority).

Step 2: When a child is born in a hospital, the form is provided by the Medical Officer In-charge.

Step 3: Fill in the form within 21 days of birth of the child.

Step 4: If birth is not registered within 21 days of its occurrence, the birth certificate is issued after police verification.

Step 5: Once the verification of the birth records (date, time, place of birth, parent's ID proof, nursing home etc.) is done by the registrar, the birth certificate is issued to the applicant.

Step 6: 7 days after applying for a birth certificate, follow up with municipal authority to obtain the birth certificate.

Step 7: By providing a self-addressed envelope at the municipality office, the birth certificate is posted to the respective address within 7-14 working days.

Importance of birth certificate:

The birth certificate is very important for a child’s admission to schools or colleges, hospital benefits and in establishing inheritance and property claims. It is the first right of a child and establishes his or her identity. It becomes important for the following processes:

• Establishing age for insurance reasons
• Proving parentage
• Age proof for employment
• Age proof for marriage
• Admission to schools/colleges
• Establishing age for enrolling in Electoral Rolls
• Registering in NPR (National Population Register)
• Application for a passport
• Immigration requirements (like getting a green card)

A person without a birth certificate will not be identified as an Indian citizen & will not be eligible to reap all the benefits/ rights.

So, always remember toget your child's birth certificate as soon as possible just after his/her birth!

Is it possible to change your name in your birth certificate? If yes, is it possible to do so online? Let us find out!

How to Change Your Name Online in a Birth Certificate

A name change in India may appear to be a time-consuming process because most of your official Documents may have already been issued. However, it is worthwhile at some point in time when you feel the need to change your name or the names of your children. This is because your sense of identity should outweigh the hassle of the process.

Of all the certificates, the Birth Certificate holds significant importance. It has to be mandatorily produced during national level examinations, medical check-ups, school and job transfers and the list may go on as new rules and amendments keep coming in. 

Essentially, a Birth Certificate contains the following details:

1. Name of the person
2. Mother’s name
3. Father’s name
4. Date of birth
5. Time of birth

A legally valid birth certificate is one that is issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, who is a state-level authority. Anybody in India, above the age of 18 has the right to change their name by following the right legal procedure. 

Click here for Online Name Change

Some states have even introduced the service of correcting the details of Birth Certificates online. For example, the Telangana government has recently introduced an integrated service delivery gateway – Meeseva which caters to this purpose.

The Procedure for Changing the Name on a Birth Certificate

Step 1- Send in an application to the Issuing Authority:

Firstly, write an application to the Registrar of Births and Deaths under your Municipal Corporation. The Registrar is generally the issuing authority for all states. The letter should contain your old name’s details, your new name’s details and a brief statement of the reasons for seeking a name change.

Step 2- Produce documents supporting the change sought:

Along with the application, you need to attach some supporting documents. This will include an appropriately notarized affidavit, in case of a name change. However, if you are looking to change your last name or date of birth, the supporting documents will vary from state to state. For instance, in the city of Bangalore, you will need to fill the  Deed Changing Surname form. In some cases, you might even be required to produce the hospital discharge certificates, when asking for a change in date of birth.

Step 3: Undergo the verification stage

After you have submitted all the documents and applications, the Registrar will either accept it or reject it. Generally, if all the documents are correct, the chances of rejection are bleak. However, in case the authority rejects your application for a name change, then you can file a write of mandamus in the respective High Court, requiring the Registrar or other issuing authority, to state reasons for the same.

Step 4: Publish name change in a local newspaper

After the issuing authority approves your application, you should publish a small advertisement in the local newspaper, as a public declaration. The format for the advertisement follows below:

I, XYZ, residing at, have changed my name to ABC and will be known as ABC from here on in. I have submitted an affidavit to this effect, which was signed by on.

Step 5: Publication in the official gazette

This is the final step in the name-change process. In order to have your name recognized legally, you need to publish it in the State Gazette ( like ‘The Delhi Gazette’). A Gazette is a Government publication and in many instances, name change published in the Gazette is insisted on.

For this purpose, you need to write an application to either the State Gazette Office or State Gazette Office. Generally, the application should consist of the following documents:

• Three copies of individually drafted applications with relevant documents.
• Copy of affidavit
• Copy of newspaper advertisement
• Demand draft of the requisite deed.
• Attested passport size photos.
• The matter of the notification that is to be published.

All these documents have to be self-attested by the applicant and one witness. It takes approximately two months from the date of your application for the gazette publication to occur, however, it might even take longer. Once published, obtain copies of the gazette publication where your advertisement appears for all future purposes.

Change of Father/Mother Name in the Birth Certificate:

Let us take an example: You are married to a divorcee and your spouse (wife) already has a child. Further, you are now the child’s stepfather rather than the biological father. You want to change the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate. You can now request that the father’s name be changed on the child’s birth certificate.

However, if you want to change the father’s name on the birth certificate, you may have to adopt the child and have the adoption registered and declared by a court order before you can apply to change the father’s name on the birth certificate. Before you do anything else, make sure to check the adoption eligibility requirements. The same procedure may be required to be followed for changing the mother’s name on a birth certificate.

Important Points to Remember for Change of Name in Birth Certificate

1. Every State differs slightly with respect to the procedure of changing the information on a birth certificate, so pay close attention to the guidelines provided by the state government office. 
2. There is a mandatory fee that you should pay at the time of submitting the application, depending on the state rules. However, the fee is nominal. 
3. Keep a copy of all documents produced, published, and obtained; it may be requested at any time.
4. Obtain a copy of the newly modified Birth Certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths. There is a nominal pay which you should pay for every copy you wish to obtain.

   How do I change my name on my birth certificate in California?

   Call the Customer Service Unit at (916) 445-2684. You can also get the form from the County Recorder or County Health Department in any California county.

   How do I change my last name on my birth certificate in Texas?

   Complete the amendment form, with no cross outs, no white out, and no correction tape. Sign the application in front of a notary and get a notary seal. Provide a photocopy of acceptable ID with your mail-in application. Provide payment for all associated fees by check or money order made out to DSHS Vital Statistics.

   What if I lost my birth certificate Singapore?

   You can apply for a birth extract online using the e-Service..

   Name (as stated on the birth certificate).

   Date of birth..

   Singapore Birth Certificate or NRIC number..

   Do you get a new birth certificate when you change your name UK?

   The name on your Deed Poll will then override the one shown on your birth certificate. However, in the few circumstances that you or your child's birth certificate details are amended, a new document is issued by the Register Office.