Mumbai Name Change After Divorce in Gazette: A Complete Guide
Going through a divorce is a tough situation and many people want to go back to their maiden name or take a new name altogether. In Mumbai, the official and legal way to change your name after divorce is by publishing it in the government gazette. This article explains the complete process of name change through gazette, including the steps, documents, fees and time taken.
What is Gazette Name Change
Gazette name change means publishing your name change in the government gazette which is a public journal and an official record. This ensures that your name change is legally recognized and can be used for all official purposes including updating your identification documents, bank accounts and other records.
Gazette Office in Mumbai
The Gazette Office in Mumbai located at Charni Road is the place where you had submitted the documents required for your name change after divorce. They handle hundreds of requests daily and have a smooth process for individuals who want to update their names officially. But now the process is done online through their portal dgps.maharashtra.gov.in
Gazette Name Change Process
The process of gazette name change after divorce involves the following steps:
- Affidavit: Prepare an affidavit stating that you want to change your name, mentioning your old name, new name and reason for the change (e.g. divorce). This affidavit should be notarized by a notary public.
- Newspaper: Publish a notice of your name change in at least two newspapers – one in Marathi and one in English. This is a must as it publicly announces your intention to change your name.
- Application: Submit the application to the Gazette Office along with the notarized affidavit, copies of the newspaper advertisements and the required documents (mentioned below).
- Gazette: Once your application is processed and approved, your name will be published in the government gazette.
Required Documents
To process your name change the following documents are required:
- Notarized Affidavit: Old name, new name and reason for the change.
- Divorce Decree: Certified copy of the divorce decree from the court.
- Newspaper Advertisements: Copies of the advertisements published in Marathi and English newspapers.
- Identity Proof: Photocopies of ID proofs like Aadhaar card, PAN card or passport.
- Address Proof: Photocopies of address proof like utility bill, voter ID or rental agreement.
- Passport size Photographs: Recent passport size photographs.
Gazette Booking
The gazette booking process involves submitting your application and the above mentioned documents to the Gazette Office through their portal. You may also have to fill up a specific form provided by the office which has details of your old name, new name and personal information.
Time Taken for Gazette Booking
The time taken for gazette booking may vary but generally it takes 4 to 8 weeks for the entire process to be completed. This includes the time taken to verify your documents, process the application and publish the name change in the government gazette. It is better to follow up with the Gazette Office if there is any delay beyond this period.
Gazette Fees
Gazette fees may also vary. Generally the fees for name change in gazette is between 523/- to 1195/- depending on the urgency of publication and type of publication (standard or express). Payable at the time of application submission.
Email your requirements with contact no on gazettebooking@gmail.com