Exact Answer: 45 to 60 days from the wedding
There is not any law that asks a man or a woman to change their name after a wedding because our name is our right and choice but some people still go ahead and take their spouse’s surname as a symbol of commitment and/or love. Adding a surname requires us to change our names in all the official documents i.e Aadhar Card, PAN Card, etc. It is seen as a social norm and given the tedious paperwork, not many prefer it these days.
How Long After Wedding To Change Name?
Changing your name requires up to 45 to 60 days (about 2 months) after marriage. The waiting time is the time taken for the marriage certificate to reach you. Only if the certificate reaches your hand, you can go ahead with the other procedures i.e changing your name in legal documents. Changing your name is a fairly difficult task which has led people to not consider this option anymore like they used to before.
There are certain steps to be taken before you can go ahead and change your name.
| Steps | Procedure |
| Step 1 | Collect your marriage certificate from the registrar’s office. |
| Step 2 | An affidavit has to be created and the wish to change one’s name has to be presented. A photo must be attached and it has to be signed. |
| Step 3 | You have to get the affidavit signed by the Notary. |
| Step 4 | An advertisement on name change should be posted in some local newspaper after the affidavit is notarized. This task is not difficult as it sounds. |
| Step 5 | The last step is Gazette notification. Now, the person can change their name in all the documents as it’s been made official. |
Getting your name changed in your PAN card is the most important step in the current scenario, which requires up to 10 to 14 days whereas changing it in Aadhar Card takes up to 15 to 30 days and sometimes even more.
Why Does it Take So Long After Wedding to Change Your Name?
The sole reason for the delay is the legal process and documentation. Receiving the certificate is said just to take 3 days, but due to many factors, it may take up to a month. Some people claim that having influential contacts may speed up the process. It also varies from state to state. A few have said that they got it done by evening while a few say that it took them 2 months. Religion also plays a role here. For example, Catholics have to get a certificate from the parish priest to get the process going. There are numerous other people you need to get in touch with and obtain their signatures.
A new photograph, as well as the renewal fee, has to be paid. It doesn’t just stop with getting the name changed in the official documents. You need to change it in your loan documents as well. For this, you need to approach the Credit Information Bureau
Your birth name is what’s available on certificates like your 10th, PU, birth certificates, and so on. Now with your spouse’s name, it’s therefore important for you to show that the names on these certificates depict the same person. There are several separate steps to be taken before you can get your name changed, as mentioned above, and each of them takes 15days to a month individually.
If you have all the documents handy, it takes just 3 days or sometimes even less.
Conclusion
If you request the certificate immediately after your wedding, chances are you will get it sooner. The longer it takes for you to process, the longer you may have to wait. You may approach agents that have dedicated themselves to this, for the certificate to reach you without any hassle. If you’re lucky enough, the whole process could get over without you having to wait in long queues. If your other documents are fine, this might not be as hard. It is a lengthy, tiring process but at the end of the day, it is worth it.
References
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-011-0089-z
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0891243211398653
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Thanks for disambiguating the process. This should be helpful for many
Changing names post marriage should be made simpler given the emotional and psychological aspects of it
I totally agree! Emotions and psychology get overlooked in the whole process
This screams bureaucracy and unnecessary processes.
That’s the sad truth and it’s the big put off
The article brings out the cons of the process quite well
Why is the process for changing names so complex after weddings?
The article explains the complexities but maybe it’s high time to simplify the process
This humorous and informative take on the rather serious process of changing names after the wedding
This sounds like an unnecessary hassle. Why even bother changing names with all these bureaucratic processes?
I couldn’t agree more. The hassle and bureaucratic processes put many people off from changing names
Thank you, the article provides an insight into a process that many people are unaware of
This seems like a laborious and tiring process. The author has done a great job in elaborating on the process
Yes, the details are well covered
This information is really valuable for soonweds. It demystifies the process of changing names very well
I couldn’t agree more. It’s amazing how it breaks down the process into small sections each with specific timelines
The writer has done quite an excellent job in explaining the process in depth
Indeed! This article is quite comprehensive.
Yes, the details are well written