How to change your last name after marriage in India? (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow the below given instructions to change your last name after marriage in India:

According to the custom in India, after marriage, the women changes her last name from her father’s name to her husband’s or husband family name. Though it is not mandatory, most of the women do it and in order to get it valid, the changed name needs to be documented in all her records thereafter. To make it easier, one just has to follow a few simple steps and the process would be simple to get the name changed in all the documents.

  1. The first and foremost step that is required is to obtain a marriage certificate. Now, this differs in each state across India and you need to follow the formalities as per the state you are residing in. The certificate would be obtained anywhere between 7 days to 3 months from applying.
  2. Once the marriage certificate is obtained, then you need to apply for a name change at the office of the State Government Gazette. They would include your name change and make it official through announcements through local newspapers. A copy of this advertisement could serve as a legal document for a name change.
  3. Alternatively, if you do not wish to follow this process, a Joint notarized affidavit from a public notary would suffice the purpose.
  4. Once this is done, then with these documents you need to make the necessary changes in your other documents which include PAN Card, Bank Documents, Passport, Driving license, Loans, Insurance etc.
  5. Also make necessary information’s at the Local municipality authority, residential society, children’s school and other places that needs to be updated.

Though it is not mandatory to change names after marriage, if you have decided to change names, then getting is uniformly done in all records is the best way to avoid future troubles.

12 Responses to How to change your last name after marriage in India? (Step-by-Step Guide)

  1. Mohammed Saalik December 16, 2013 at 12:36 am #

    I am a Muslim from J&K . And I have a registered copy of my Nikah(Marriage) issued to me by our Religious Qazi(Authorized). But, this Nikah Nama alone is not accepted by the Passport Authority of India as a valid proof of Marriage. Therefore I have few inter-related questions to ask.
    I want to know from you if I make a joint affidavit (inclusive of change of surname of my wife) in place of a marriage certificate, will it be accepted as a valid proof of “marriage and name change” in order to apply for a passport, pan card in case of my wife?
    And if it is valid, then is it necessary to change her name on her qualification certificates as well with the help of this joint affidavit or not ? Moreover, if it is not compulsory, then whether the Changed name on her Pan Card and Passport and Old name on her qualification certificates and degrees will create a conflict while applying for a job in the State or not?

    Thank You.

    • Pabdita March 25, 2016 at 1:49 pm #

      U are not authorized to get any certificate from.Indian Got. Pls contact your area KAK.

  2. Rashmi October 11, 2015 at 10:25 am #

    I got married to Muslim. I was hindu. I changed name to Ayesha. He died. I remarried to hindu. Now i want to change my name n religion in all documents from Ayesha to any previous hindu name n religion. What should i do.

  3. Praveen April 14, 2016 at 7:56 am #

    Hi,
    Very helpful article.
    i would like to know that in the marraige certificate girl’s name mentioned will be her old name(maiden)?

  4. Nikhil Ghodke July 4, 2016 at 5:55 pm #

    It is not valid to only summited the copy of marriage certificate instead of gadgeted or notarized?

  5. Vaibhav August 16, 2016 at 1:28 pm #

    I am now married & want to change my wife name from Varsha Tiwari to Varsha Dwivedi in ID Proof aas PAN Card, Aadhaar Card etc, Is it necessary that I have to change name in all qualification certificate also

  6. Maya August 21, 2016 at 5:06 pm #

    How does it work if one wants to break the tradition and have the man take the woman’s family name after marriage?

  7. pooja pillay July 7, 2017 at 8:50 pm #

    hi my name is pooja ramakant tiwari and now as im married i have to change my name as pooja arun pillay. please help.

  8. Vishwesh August 1, 2017 at 12:17 am #

    U have to apply for Special marriage Certificate from your Local Registrar Office, Normal Marriage Certificate is for Hindus and Special Marriage Certificate for Others, So apply for that

  9. Khadar February 5, 2018 at 12:19 am #

    My name is khadar.I got recently married in vijayawada. I stay in Hyderabad and my wife is from Vijayawada. And i want to register our marriage.
    I am now completely unaware as what to do to register our marriage as the state has now bifurcated (Andhra – Telangana) .

    My Issue:
    – Can i register in Hyderabad or should i go to Vijayawada for it. I want to change my name in all identities. Kindly do the needful

  10. Swagata February 6, 2018 at 10:06 am #

    I married in last year. I have my registry certificate but in the certifacate marriage register officer told me to provide my previous sername (before marrige). So now my old name is written in my marriage certificate. So now I need to change my name to my personal document (ex: pan card). Is that registry certificate valid to change my documents? Please help me what is the solution?

  11. Karunesh March 3, 2018 at 1:53 am #

    Hi my wife name was Chanda Kumari before marriage n she was doing government job n has been suspended. After marriage we have changed her name to Chanda Devi with help of Gram Pachayat Mukhiya’s letter. Recently she has been resumed for the same job where her name is Chanda Kumari. While PAN, AADHAR, PASSPORT, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, BANK ACCOUNT VOTER ID ETC has been prepared with the name of Chanda Devi. Advice which should be changed?

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