Affidavit for Change of Name

What this affidavit does, and what it does not

An affidavit for change of name is a sworn statement that you, one person, are changing the name by which you are known, and that both names refer to you. Worth being precise about what swearing it achieves: an affidavit is not itself evidence in the strict sense — a court treats it as evidence only where it so orders under Order XIX of the Code of Civil Procedure, or where a statute allows it. What it is, is a formal sworn statement that the receiving authority is entitled to act on, and which exposes you to prosecution if it is false. It does not, by itself, change your name in any government record. That is done by each authority separately — the bank, the school, the passport office — and most of them want the affidavit as the supporting document, not as the change itself.

Where the change has to be made public, the sequence is affidavit, then newspaper publication, and then — if you actually need it — a Gujarat Government Gazette notification. Be clear that the third step is not always required. For a passport, the Ministry of External Affairs asks for a deed poll or sworn affidavit plus advertisements in two newspapers, one circulating where you live and one where your permanent address is, with the original newspapers produced at the application. It does not require a gazette entry. Some universities, some employers and some banks do ask for one, and a gazette entry is a durable public record that is easy to produce years later — but ask the authority what they actually want before paying for a step you may not need. We handle gazette applications and we would still rather tell you that.

Getting the wording right

Two mistakes come back to this counter constantly. The first is an incomplete old name — the affidavit must carry the name exactly as it appears on the document you are trying to correct, including the spelling you think is wrong. The second is omitting the reason. "I wish to be known as" is weaker than a stated reason, and marriage, a spelling error at school admission, or a numerological change are all perfectly good reasons to state plainly.

Where the person changing the name is a minor, the affidavit is normally sworn by the parent or guardian on the minor's behalf. There is no absolute bar on an older minor who understands the obligation deposing themselves, but the parent or guardian is the usual and safer course, and it is what most authorities expect.

What to bring when you come in

• Aadhaar or other photo identity showing the name you are changing FROM
• Any document showing the name you are changing TO, if one exists
• The document that carries the wrong or old spelling
• For a minor: the parent's or guardian's identity, and the child's birth certificate

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