Updated for 2026 · How to legally change your name in Tamil Nadu — affidavit, newspaper and the Government Gazette.
- Three steps in order: affidavit → newspaper → gazette.
- The affidavit is on stamp paper, signed by two witnesses and notarised.
- Publish in one English and one Tamil newspaper.
- The gazette notification is the permanent legal proof — keep the printed page.
- Whole process typically takes 3–6 weeks; budget roughly ₹3,000–₹6,000.
- After gazetting, update Aadhaar, PAN, bank and every other record in one go.
When you need a gazette name change
You need this when you want to change your name itself — a new first name, a new surname, or dropping an initial — as opposed to merely correcting a spelling error. If your problem is that the same name is spelt differently across documents, that is a correction, not a name change, and it is handled document-by-document; our guides to ration card name correction and patta name correction cover that. A gazette notification is for a genuine change of name, most commonly after marriage, for numerology, or to formalise a name you have always used.
Step 1 — The affidavit
Prepare an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper stating your old name, your new name, and the reason for the change (marriage, personal preference, and so on). It must be signed by two witnesses and then notarised by a notary public. This affidavit is the legal foundation of the whole process, and both the newspapers and the gazette office will ask to see it.
Step 2 — Newspaper publication
Publish a short name-change announcement in two newspapers — one English daily and one Tamil daily. Keep the full original copies of both papers, not just cuttings; the gazette office wants the page showing the masthead and date. This public notice is what gives anyone with an objection the chance to raise it.
Step 3 — The Government Gazette
This is the step that makes the change official. Apply for publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette through the Directorate of Stationery and Printing. The proforma is obtained from the Assistant Director (Publication), Directorate of Stationery and Printing, 110, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002, by post or in person.
| Submit to the gazette office |
|---|
| The completed proforma / application |
| The notarised affidavit |
| The two full newspaper copies (English + Tamil) |
| Proof of identity (Aadhaar) and passport photographs |
| The prescribed fee |
The notification is typically published within 2 to 4 weeks of a complete submission. Once it appears, obtain the printed gazette copy — that page, quoting your old and new name, is your permanent legal proof.
The gazette office will not accept your application without the notarised affidavit and the two newspaper copies already in hand. So follow the order — affidavit first, newspapers next, gazette last. Trying to shortcut it, or arriving with photocopies instead of the full newspaper pages, is the usual reason an application is sent back.
After the gazette — update everything at once
The gazette page is proof, but it does not automatically change your other records. Once it is published, use it to update — in one push — your Aadhaar, PAN, bank accounts, employer records, ration card, passport and educational certificates. Changing some and leaving others creates exactly the name-mismatch problem that causes applications to be rejected years later. Treat the gazette as the trigger to bring every document into line with the new name.
After marriage — the commonest case
Most name changes in Tamil Nadu follow marriage, and this is where mismatches are created fastest. The clean approach is to use the marriage certificate as your supporting proof, do the affidavit-newspaper-gazette sequence once, and then update every document in a single push. Leaving the maiden name on two records and the married name on three is exactly the situation that produces a rejected application years later, at the worst possible moment. Decide the new name in full, then carry it through everywhere.
Changing a minor child's name
A name change for a minor is done by the parents or guardian on the child's behalf, with the affidavit sworn by the guardian. The same three steps apply — affidavit, newspaper, gazette — and the gazette page then supports updates to the child's school records and Aadhaar. Because school records are the anchor document for a child's identity for years, it is worth getting this right early rather than after admissions.
What it costs, in parts
The total of roughly ₹3,000–₹6,000 breaks into three parts: the notarised affidavit (stamp paper plus notary), the newspaper advertisements in two dailies, and the gazette fee. The newspaper advertisements are usually the most variable part, since rates differ between publications. None of the three steps can be skipped, so budget for all of them before you start rather than being surprised at the gazette counter.
A quick document checklist
Before you approach the gazette office, gather in one folder: the notarised affidavit; the full copies of both newspapers with masthead and date visible; the completed proforma; Aadhaar and photographs; and the fee. Missing any one of these is the usual reason an application is handed back, and a second trip to Anna Salai is easily avoided. Photocopies of the newspapers are not accepted — bring the actual pages.
Frequently asked questions
About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT. Plain-language guides to Tamil Nadu government services and schemes.
Disclaimer: Informational guide, updated 2026. This is not official government communication. Processes, fees and timelines are set by the Government of Tamil Nadu and can change — confirm on the official portal before acting.