Name change affidavit in Punjab and Chandigarh: steps, stamp paper and Gazette
To change your name in Punjab or Chandigarh you swear a name change affidavit on stamp paper before a Notary Public or an Oath Commissioner, then produce it at the bank, employer, school or university whose records need the new name. You must appear in person, never through an agent or a power of attorney holder.
Nothing is registered and no witness is required by law, but some authorities, such as government service records and certain professional registrations, also insist on a notice in the Gazette.
The affidavit does not update Aadhaar or PAN by itself, so check what each office asks for.
Checked on against the affidavit stamp paper figures on our own pages, including the name change affidavits for an adult, after marriage and for a minor. The exact rupee figure for affidavit stamp paper in Punjab was not independently confirmed on that date, and some counters ask for a higher denomination by local practice, so confirm it with the stamp vendor or SHCIL before your notary appointment. Guide updated .
Which name change affidavit do you need?
The right document depends on who is changing the name and why:
- Name Change Affidavit (Adult): an adult changing their own name, on marriage or conversion, to correct a spelling, or by preference.
- Name Change after Marriage Affidavit: a spouse whose name changed on marriage. It recites the marriage itself, which is what a bank or passport counter asks to see.
- Minor Name Change Affidavit (by Parent): a child’s name, sworn by a parent or guardian because the child cannot swear.
- Gazette Name Change Application: the further step, asking the Department of Publication to print an adult’s change in the Gazette of India.
When do you need a name change affidavit?
Most authorities will not update a name on your say-so; they want a notarised affidavit first. This affidavit alone is what banks, employers, schools and universities commonly accept to update their own records in the new name.
It does not, by itself, update Aadhaar or PAN: UIDAI and the PAN authorities each run their own correction process, and UIDAI may ask for supporting proof of the new name. After a marriage, UIDAI, the Passport Seva Kendra and some banks often want the marriage certificate itself, or a joint photograph and the marriage invitation, alongside the affidavit.
For how any affidavit is sworn, see our affidavit guide.
What stamp paper does a name change affidavit need?
Non-judicial stamp paper under Article 4 of the Indian Stamp Act schedule. In Punjab it is bought from a licensed vendor or e-stamped through SHCIL (shcilestamp.com), the sole e-stamping agency for the state. In Chandigarh it is the same nominal denomination, e-stamped through SHCIL or bought at the Treasury, Sector 17.
Buy the stamp paper before the notary appointment, not after: a notary will not swear an affidavit onto paper bought afterwards. The Gazette covering application is on plain paper with no stamp duty; only its annexed affidavit needs stamp paper.
Who can swear it, and does it need a notary?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Stamp paper | Yes, under Article 4. The rupee value is an “Ask us”, above. |
| Registration | Not registrable: section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908 does not reach it. |
| Oath | Before a Notary Public under the Notaries Act, 1952, or an Oath Commissioner. Both are equally acceptable. |
| Witnesses | None required by law. Carry a second photo ID in case the notary asks for an identifying witness. |
The adult affidavit is for a single adult, 18 or older, changing their own name. You appear personally with original identity proof and sign in front of the notary, not before. After a marriage, bring identity proof in both the former and the new name where you have both.
A few banks accept their own branch manager’s attestation for a small internal update, but not where the affidavit is meant for UIDAI, PAN or Gazette use.
Do you also need a Gazette notice?
It depends on who you are showing the change to. For most banks, employers and schools the affidavit is enough. Some authorities, among them government service records, professional registrations and a passport re-issue in certain categories, insist on the Gazette entry as well; for those the affidavit is Step 1.
The Gazette Name Change Application bundles the covering application to the Department of Publication, the affidavit it must annex, and the newspaper advertisement text. It is filed through the e-Gazette service at egazette.gov.in or by post. Keep the original newspaper cutting, or an e-paper printout with the publication’s certificate.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Assuming the affidavit updates Aadhaar, PAN or other government records.
- Using the adult affidavit for a child. A minor’s name is affirmed by a natural guardian in different words.
- Reciting a marriage and expecting the affidavit to prove it. A fussier counter may ask you to register the marriage first.
- Relying on an affidavit several months old, which offices commonly hesitate over.
How do you make a name change affidavit on Kagaznama for free?
Fill in our free Name Change Affidavit (Adult) on this site. Have ready your current legal name exactly as it appears on your documents, the new name, your relationship detail (son of, daughter of or wife of), your age and address, your Aadhaar number (used only to identify you in the affidavit), the reason for the change, and a list of the records it will update.
If the change follows a marriage, use the Name Change after Marriage Affidavit instead, then take it to the notary with your photo identification.
Questions people ask
Do I need the Gazette as well as the affidavit?
It depends on who you are showing it to. The affidavit alone is what most banks, employers, schools and universities accept. Some authorities, such as government service records, certain professional registrations and a passport re-issue in some categories, also insist on Gazette publication, and for them the affidavit is Step 1.
Does a name change affidavit update my Aadhaar or PAN?
No. UIDAI and the PAN authorities each run their own correction process with their own list of accepted supporting documents. The affidavit is commonly one of the supporting papers, not the whole of it.
How much stamp paper does a name change affidavit need in Punjab?
Our adult name change page says Rs 10 in both Punjab and Chandigarh, on non-judicial stamp paper under Article 4, and warns that some counters ask for a higher denomination by local practice. The exact figure now notified in Punjab was not independently confirmed when we checked on 19 September 2026, so confirm it with the vendor or SHCIL, and buy it before your notary appointment.
Can I use this affidavit to change my child’s name?
No. The adult affidavit is for an adult changing their own name and must be sworn in person. A minor’s name is affirmed by a parent or guardian, in different words, using the Minor Name Change Affidavit.
Can someone else swear the affidavit for me?
No. The deponent must appear in person before the notary or Oath Commissioner, never through an agent or a power of attorney holder, and must sign in the officer’s presence.
How old can a name change affidavit be before an office refuses it?
There is no statutory expiry, but banks, employers and other authorities commonly hesitate over one that is several months old. If an update has been pending for a while, swearing a fresh affidavit is usually simpler than arguing for the old one.
This guide explains the rules as our document pages state them. It is not legal advice about your own situation; for that, speak to somebody who has heard your facts.