How to Change Your Surname After Marriage?
Marriage is one of the biggest milestones in a woman’s life. Along with emotional and familial changes, one common decision many women make is to adopt their husband's surname — which brings a sense of new identity and belonging.
While friends and family may start calling you by your new name, if your official documents still reflect your old name, it can lead to various problems in the future.
Such as:
- Issues while applying for a passport
- Name mismatch in bank accounts or visa documents
- Discrepancies in job applications
That’s why it’s important to ensure your name is uniform across all government records — and for that, a legal name changeprocessmust be followed.
Why is it Important to Change Your Name Legally After Marriage?
- Taking your husband’s surname represents family unity and emotional bonding
- Having the same name across documents avoids future legal or bureaucratic issues
- Uniformity in passport, Aadhaar, PAN, bank, and visa documents is essential
Required Documents for Name Change
- Marriage Certificate
- Identity Proofs– Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or Passport
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Affidavit– Declaring your name change
- Newspaper advertisement(Public Notice)
- Gazette notification form and supporting documents
3 Easy Steps to Legally Change Your Name After Marriage
Step 1: Create an Affidavit
First, you must prepare an affidavit stating that you’ve married and now wish to adopt your husband’s surname.
It includes:
- Your old name (e.g., Priyanka Bhagat)
- Your new name (e.g., Priyanka Bisen)
- Husband’s name (e.g., Aditya Bisen)
-
Address, signature, and passport-sized photo
This affidavit is made on stamp paper and notarized.
Step 2: Publish a Newspaper Advertisement
After preparing the affidavit, you must publish a notice in a national-level newspaper.
Example format:
“I, Priyanka Bhagat, have changed my name to Priyanka Bisen after marriage.”
This is published under the Public Notice section.
Step 3: Apply for Gazette Notification
This is the most crucial step.
Your name gets officially published in the Government Gazette, making it legally valid.
Documents required:
- Marriage certificate
- Affidavit
- Newspaper clipping
- Passport-size photo
- Identity proof
- Application form and CD (if required)
It usually takes 20–25 days for your name to be published in the gazette.
Simplify the Process – With Our Expert Support
This entire process may seem lengthy and confusing at first.
But with proper guidance, it becomes smooth and completely hassle-free.
If you're wondering:
- How to draft the affidavit?
- What documents are needed?
- Where to publish the ad?
- How to apply for the Gazette?
Let LSO Legal assist you.
We handle the entire process from start to finish, including affidavit drafting, newspaper publication, and Gazette submission.
Our panel includes registered senior advocates with 22+ years of experience, who provide the correct legal support at every stage.
Whenever you're ready —
We’re here to help you.
Connect with LSO Legal today — and make your name change simple, legal, and secure.
