Name Change Affidavit in India: Format, Process and Gazette Publication (2026)

Explainer · Affidavits & Formats

Updated for 2026 · Claw Editorial

You want to change your name, or fix a spelling on your documents, and every office tells you the same thing: bring an affidavit. The trouble is that an affidavit alone is often not enough, and people lose weeks because they do not know the full process. A name change affidavit is a sworn statement of your old and new name, and it is the first of three steps to change a name legally in India. This guide explains each step, gives a sample format, and shows how to update your documents afterwards.

01When you need a name change affidavit

You need a name change affidavit whenever your name is changing, or is written differently across your records, and you must prove it is the same person. Most people reach for it in a few common situations.

• Marriage: a woman taking her husband’s surname, or either spouse changing a name after marriage or divorce.
• Personal choice: adopting a new first name, surname, or a different spelling.
• Spelling mistakes: the name on your school certificate does not match your Aadhaar or PAN.
• Religion or other reasons: a change of name linked to personal or religious reasons.
• Minors: a parent changing a child’s name, which is done by the parents or guardian on the child’s behalf.

A small spelling fix may only need the affidavit and the issuing office’s own correction form. A full change to a new name usually needs all three steps below. Always check what the specific office asks for before you start.

02The three steps to change a name legally

Changing a name legally in India is a three-step process: affidavit, newspaper publication, and Gazette notification. The affidavit is only step one.

1. Step 1, the affidavit: you swear a statement of your old and new name on stamp paper and get it notarised.
2. Step 2, newspaper publication: you publish a notice of the change in newspapers so the public knows.
3. Step 3, Gazette notification: you apply to have the change published in the Gazette of India. This becomes the official proof of your new name.

A name change affidavit is step one of three. The Gazette notification is what gives you official proof of the new name.

Some people stop after the affidavit and the newspaper notice, and that is enough for many small private purposes. But for passports, bank records, property papers and government records, the Gazette copy is the strongest proof, so most people complete all three steps.

03How to draft the affidavit

A good name change affidavit is short, written in the first person, and states each fact in a numbered paragraph. It has a clear structure, and each part has a job.

What the affidavit should contain

• Title: “Affidavit for Change of Name”.
• Deponent details: your full old name, father’s or husband’s name, age, and full address.
• Declaration of the old name: that you were known by the old name, and where it appears (school records, Aadhaar, PAN and so on).
• Declaration of the new name: that you have decided to adopt a new name, and from which date.
• Reason: a short, honest reason for the change.
• No fraud: that you are not changing your name to cheat anyone or to avoid any legal duty.
• Request: that all authorities and people treat the new name as your name from now on.
• Verification and signature: the closing lines, the place and date, and your signature.

Practical points

Print the affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper of the value your state requires. The stamp paper value differs by state, so check locally. Use the same spelling of both names everywhere. Keep the language plain, and have it in English or in the language the office accepts. Do not leave blanks.

04Sample name change affidavit

Below is a simple sample you can adapt. It is for guidance only. Change the details to match your facts and your state’s requirements, and have an advocate check it for important matters.

AFFIDAVIT FOR CHANGE OF NAME

I, [Old Full Name], son/daughter/wife of [Name], aged [age] years, resident of [full address], do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as follows:

1. That I am a citizen of India and the permanent resident of the above address.

2. That my name as recorded in my [school certificate / Aadhaar / PAN / other record] is [Old Full Name].

3. That I have decided to change my name from [Old Full Name] to [New Full Name] with effect from [date].

4. That the reason for this change is [short reason, for example marriage / personal choice / correction of spelling].

5. That I am not changing my name to cheat anyone or to avoid any legal duty, and no case or proceeding is pending against me because of which this change is being sought.

6. That from now on I shall be known as [New Full Name], and I request all authorities, institutions and persons to record and use my new name in all documents.

DEPONENT

VERIFICATION: I, the above named deponent, verify that the contents of this affidavit are true and correct to my knowledge, and nothing material has been concealed. Verified at [place] on this [day] of [month, year].

DEPONENT

For a minor, the parent or guardian is the deponent. They should state the child’s old and new name, the child’s date of birth, and that the change is in the child’s interest. Where a spouse or the other parent is involved, an office may ask for their consent.

05Notarisation: making the affidavit valid

An affidavit becomes a sworn document only after you sign it in front of a notary public or an oath commissioner, who attests it. Without that, it is just a signed paper.

• Carry your original photo ID, such as Aadhaar or passport, and a recent photograph if asked.
• Sign only in the presence of the notary. Do not pre-sign.
• The notary records the affidavit in a register, adds a serial number, seal and date.
• Some offices ask for witnesses, so check in advance.
• Keep several attested copies. You will need one for the newspaper, the Gazette, and each office.

Notary charges differ by city, so ask before you go. Keep the original safe, and give out photocopies where you can.

06Newspaper and Gazette of India publication

After notarisation, you publish the change in newspapers, and then apply for notification in the Gazette of India.

Step 2: newspaper publication

You place a short public notice in newspapers. Most guidance suggests one English daily and one newspaper in the local language of your area. The notice normally states your old name, your new name, your address, and the date and place where the affidavit was sworn. Keep the newspaper cuttings or the e-paper copies, since the Gazette application asks for them.

Step 3: Gazette of India notification

The Gazette notification is made through the Department of Publication, Government of India, which publishes the Gazette. You send in your application with the notarised affidavit, the newspaper proofs, ID and address proof, and the prescribed fee. Once processed, your new name appears in the Gazette, and you can get a copy for your records.

Check the current form, the fee, the mode of payment, and whether you can apply online on the official Gazette website. Processing time is usually a few weeks, and it can vary.

07Updating your documents after the name change

Once the Gazette copy is ready, use it to update every record, because your old name stays on file until you tell each office.

• Aadhaar and PAN: update through the respective portals or centres with the Gazette copy and ID proof.
• Passport: apply for reissue with a name change through the passport portal.
• Bank accounts, demat, insurance and loans: submit the Gazette copy and affidavit to each institution.
• Driving licence and voter ID: apply for a name correction with the issuing authority.
• Educational and employer records: request a name update with certificates and HR.
• Property, GST and company records: update where your name appears, which may need further filings.

Each authority has its own form and list of documents, so follow its own rules. Keep several copies of the Gazette notification and the notarised affidavit, since you will keep needing them. If you also need to inform someone formally about the change, a short letter may do, or see the legal notice format in India for formal notices.

08Where Claw fits

Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.

A name change affidavit is a simple document, and you do not need software to write one. If you are an advocate or a legal team who draft affidavits often, Claw’s AI drafting can give you a first draft quickly, which you then review and finalise. Claw has a free plan for individual advocates, and paid plans for teams. It does not replace notarisation or the Gazette process, which you must still complete yourself. Learn more at clawlaw.in.

09Sources and further reading

For the latest form, fee and process, use the official sources:

• eGazette of India (official Gazette publication): egazette.gov.in
• Claw: clawlaw.in

Last verified October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change, so confirm with the relevant authority or an advocate.

10Frequently asked questions