Editing Name change (section)

==Civil law jurisdictions==
In general, unlike in [[common law]] countries, names cannot be changed at will in [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] jurisdictions. Usually, a name change requires government approval, though legal name changes have become more common in some jurisdictions over the last years. The reason given for this system is usually the public interest in the unique identifiability of a person, e.g., in governmental registers, although with the advent of [[personal identification numbers]], that rationale may be in need of reconsideration.{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

===Belgium===
Changes in law Aug 2018 changes first name and fee will fall under the authority of local town hall<ref>{{cite web |url=https://justitie.belgium.be/nl/nieuws/persberichten_70 |title=Veranderen van (voor-)naam: wat verandert er? |trans-title=Changing (first) name: what will change? |date=July 24, 2018 |website=Federale Overheidsdienst Justitie |language=Dutch |access-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527034338/https://justitie.belgium.be/nl/nieuws/persberichten_70 |archive-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref> In Belgian law, a name is in principle considered fixed for life, but under exceptional circumstances, a person may apply to the Ministry of Justice for a name change. This requires a Royal Decree (French: ''Arrêté royal'', Dutch: ''Koninklijk besluit'') for last names, but only a Ministerial Decree for first names. The new name must not cause confusion or cause damage to the bearer or others. Examples of requests that are usually considered favorably:
* A person of non-European origin who wants to adopt a less exotic name to further their integration in Belgian society
* A person stuck with a ridiculous last name that is causing them great embarrassment or emotional distress. Actual examples: Salami, Naaktgeboren ("born naked"), and Clooten ("sods of earth" in Middle Dutch, but "testicles" in modern Dutch)
* (for minor children) following legal adoption or recognition of paternity<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.just.fgov.be/nl_htm/informatie/htm_justitie_atotz/naamveranderen.html |title=Veranderen Van Naam of Voornaam |language=Dutch |access-date=July 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514153237/http://www.just.fgov.be/nl_htm/informatie/htm_justitie_atotz/naamveranderen.html |archive-date=May 14, 2007}}</ref>

===Brazil===
In Brazil, legal name changes are regulated by the Public Records Act (Law No. 6,015/1973)<ref>{{cite web|title=L6015consolidado|language=pt-BR|website=Presidência da República|url=https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l6015consolidado.htm|access-date=February 13, 2023}}</ref> and can be requested by any person registered on a Brazilian civil registry office, through a court order or directly on a civil registry office, depending on the case.

People over the [[age of majority]] (18 years<ref>{{cite web|title=L10406compilada|language=pt-BR|work=Presidência da República|url=https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/LEIS/2002/L10406compilada.htm|access-date=February 13, 2023}}</ref>) may change their [[given name]]s without specifying a reason. The change of given name directly on a civil registry office can be done only once, and to revert the change, a court order is required.

A person's [[surname]]s can be changed directly on a civil registry office, in the following circumstances:
* inclusion of family surnames;
* inclusion of the spouse's or partner's surname following marriage or stable union;
* exclusion of the spouse's or partner's surname following divorce or extinction of a  stable union;
* inclusion or exclusion of surnames following change of [[filiation]];
* for [[stepchild]]ren, the inclusion of the surname of the [[stepmother]] or [[stepfather]], as long as there are justifiable reasons and consent from the stepparent whose surname is being included.

===Indonesia===
Unlike other countries, the legal procedures for name change in Indonesia are very complicated. The photocopies of many personal documents are required, including a family register, an [[Indonesian identity card|identity card]], a marriage book, a diploma, a birth certificate, a land ownership certificate, a saving book, and a motor vehicle ownership book. Then, an order by local court is required to change the name. A minimum of two witnesses in the court are required.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pn-purwodadi.go.id/index.php/tentang-pengadilan/kepaniteraan/kepaniteraan-perdata/permohonan/persyaratan-permohonan-ganti-nama-tambah-nama-perbaikan-nama|title=Persyaratan Permohonan Ganti Nama/Tambah Nama/ Perbaikan Nama|website=pn-purwodadi.go.id|access-date=2024-03-24}}</ref> Changing a name in a birth certificate, especially of a minor, requires the photocopies of identity cards of both parents, and a letter of known birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pn-koba.go.id/syarat-permohonan-ganti-nama-perbaikan-akte-kelahiran/|title=SYARAT PERMOHONAN GANTI NAMA/ PERBAIKAN AKTE KELAHIRAN|website=pn-koba.go.id|access-date=2024-03-24}}</ref>

However, correcting one's name spelling (i.e. inconsistent) is much easier, it is only required to bring personal documents with the correct one to the civil registry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indonesiabaik.id/infografis/perubahan-nama-di-akta-kk-atau-e-ktp|title=Perubahan Nama di Akta, KK, atau e-KTP|website=indonesiabaik.id|access-date=2024-03-24}}</ref>

===Netherlands===
While name changes due to marriages performed in the Netherlands cannot be processed, it is certainly possible in the Netherlands to process name changes due to marriages performed outside the Netherlands, provided certain conditions are met: the marriage must be registered abroad, the application for name change abroad must be requested on the same date as the marriage date, the changed name must be recorded abroad on a certificate in accordance with the local rules of the foreign country, and the marriage and name change as well as proof of application as of the date of the marriage must be legalized/[[apostille]]d and provided to the Dutch consulate or Dutch municipality upon return to the Netherlands.

The reason is that international marriages are not necessarily governed by Dutch Law but by Private International Law which is codified in the Netherlands in the "Commoner's Law Book" (Burgerlijk Wetboek) Book No. 10, Private International Law, Title 2 – The Name, Article 24.

===Norway===
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2012}}
Although it has always been relatively easy to change one's legal names in Norway, it used to require some kind of government approval. As late as 1830, local vicars were instructed to write both given (Christian) names, as well as last names, in the baptismal record. Earlier, only the given name of the child, birth date, baptismal date, and sex were written down, alongside the parents' names. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century, however, that the authorities required everyone to adopt a family surname. Until about 1980, the government still required that a name change applicant apply to the government regional representative ([[fylkesmann]]). The law has been replaced twice since then. Nowadays, the process is as easy as in common-law countries; the subject merely submits the names wanted (providing that the surname chosen is not in use or is not used by fewer than 200 persons) to the local authorities for the purposes of election rosters and census counts; there is no longer an application process.

===Philippines===
2001 RA 9048 amends Articles 376 and 412 of the [[Civil Code of the Philippines]], which prohibit the change of name or surname of a person, or any correction or change of entry in a civil register without a judicial order. Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2001, implemented the law.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov.ph/data/civilreg/irr_ra9048.html |title=Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2001 |website=Republic of the Philippines National Statistics Office |access-date=July 13, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621060551/http://www.census.gov.ph/data/civilreg/irr_ra9048.html |archive-date=June 21, 2008}}</ref> It authorizes the city or municipal civil registrar or the consul general to correct a clerical or typographical error in an entry or change the first name or nickname in the civil register without need of a judicial order.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov.ph/data/civilreg/primerra9048.html |title=Civil Registration – Primer for RA 9048 |website=Republic of the Philippines National Statistics Office |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212183553/http://www.census.gov.ph/data/civilreg/primerra9048.html |archive-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref><ref name=ChanRobles-Philippines-RA9048>{{cite web |url=http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9048.htm |title=Republic Act No. 9048: An Act Authorizing the City or Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to correct a clerical or typographical error in an entry and/or change of first name or nickname in the Civil Register without need of a Judicial Order, amending for this purpose Articles 376 and 412 of the Civil Code of the Philippines |date=March 22, 2001 |website=Chan Robles Virtual Law Library}}</ref>

The first name or nickname on the civil register may be changed under any of the following circumstances:<ref name=ChanRobles-Philippines-RA9048 />
* when the first name or nickname on the civil register is ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to pronounce;
* when the new first name or nickname has been used habitually and continuously by the applicant and they have been publicly known by the new first name or nickname in the community; or
* when the change will avoid confusion.

====Name and gender change====
In case of controversial and substantial changes, [[Philippines]] [[jurisprudence]] requires full-blown court [[lawsuit]], that must include the local civil registrar in the petition, since RA 9048 and Rule 108 (Cancellation or correction of entries in the Civil Registry) of the Rules of Court do not allow the change of sex in a birth certificate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chanrobles.com/rulesofcourtspecialproceedings.htm#RULE%20108 |title=Special Proceedings: Rule 108 ~ Cancellation or correction of entries in the Civil Registry |website=Chan Robles Virtual Law Library}}</ref>

The only landmark case in the Philippines on name and legal sex change is the Jeff Cagandahan case. The [[Supreme Court of the Philippines]] Justice [[Leonardo Quisumbing]] on September 12, 2008, allowed Cagandahan, 27, who has [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia]], to change the name on his [[birth certificate]] to read Jeff, and his legal gender to male.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080917-161148/Call-him-Jeff-says-SC-he-used-to-be-called-Jennifer |title=Call him Jeff, says SC; he used to be called Jennifer |first=Leila |last=Salaverria |date=September 17, 2008 |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808193038/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080917-161148/Call-him-Jeff-says-SC-he-used-to-be-called-Jennifer |archive-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24359150-401,00.html |title=Woman's body 'naturally' became male |date=September 16, 2008 |website=[[News.com.au]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216041937/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24359150-401,00.html |archive-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/rare-condition-turns-woman-into-man |title=Rare Condition Turns Woman Into Man |date=September 16, 2008 |website=[[Fox News]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215192910/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423242,00.html |archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref>

===South Africa===
South Africa, which uses a mixture of common law and civil [[Roman Dutch law]], mostly uses common-law procedures with regard to name change. Name changes in [[South Africa]] are regulated by the Births and Deaths Registration Act (Act 51 of 1992, as amended). The personal information of all citizens and permanent residents is recorded on the Population Register, so any name changes must be registered.

A person can change their forenames by submitting a form to the [[South African Department of Home Affairs|Department of Home Affairs]]. An individual's surname, or that of a family, may be changed by applying to the Department and providing a "good and sufficient reason" for the change.

A married woman can change her surname to that of her husband or join her maiden name with her husband's surname, and a divorced woman may return to her previous surname, without applying or paying a fee; but she must notify the department so that the details in the Population Register can be changed. (It is possible that, if challenged, these provisions might be held to be unconstitutional because they apply only to women.)

South Africa has officially recognized same sex marriages since 2006 and in doing so now allows one or both partners to change their surnames in the marriage register on the day of the marriage. A new passport and ID book can then be applied for with the new married surname as well.

The surnames of minor children can also be changed under various circumstances involving the marriage, divorce or death of a parent, children born out of wedlock, and guardianship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/personal_amendments.asp |title=Personal Amendments |website=[[Department of Home Affairs (South Africa)|South African Department of Home Affairs]] |access-date=May 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911222143/http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/personal_amendments.asp |archive-date=September 11, 2008}}</ref>

===Switzerland===
In Switzerland, a name change requires the approval of the respective [[Cantons of Switzerland|Cantonal]] government, if there are important reasons (''wichtige Gründe'' / ''justes motifs'') for the change, according to article 30 of the [[Swiss Civil Code]]. When aliens apply for naturalization, they have the option of asking for their names to be changed upon the grants of citizenship with no additional fees.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} According to the case law of the [[Swiss Federal Supreme Court]], such requests must be granted only if the petitioner shows that they suffer substantially from their present name, e.g., if it is the same as that of a notorious criminal.

===Taiwan===
{{See also|Salmon chaos}}
{{Wikibooks|Annotated Republic of China Laws/Name Act}}
In [[Taiwan]], the ''Name Act'' bans changing one's legal name for some criminal reasons per [https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawSearchContent.aspx?pcode=D0030011&norge=6 Article 15] since 2015 (Article 12 since 2001). Otherwise, one may change the surname, given name, or both per Article 8, 9, or 10 since 2015 (Article 5, 6, or 7 since 1953, or Article 6, 7, or 8 since 2001).

Changing the given name is allowed if:<ref>Article 6 of the ''Name Act'' (1953) ([[s:zh:姓名條例 (民國42年)]]), amended into Article 7 of the ''Name Act'' (2001) ([[s:zh:姓名條例 (民國90年)]]), then amended into Article 9 of the ''Name Act'' (2015) [[s:zh:姓名條例 (民國104年)]].</ref>
*Having the same name when serving or studying in the same institution or school.
*Since 1983, having the same given name as one's parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent.<ref>Clause 2 of Article 6 of the ''Name Act'' (1983) ([[s:zh:姓名條例 (民國72年)|姓名條例 (民國72年)]]), amended into Clause 2 of Section 1 of Article 7 of the ''Name Act'' (2001), then amended into Clause 2 of Section 1 of Article 7 of the ''Name Act'' (2015).</ref>
*Having the same name as someone else who lives in the same county or city and having lived there for at least 6 months.
*Having the same name as a wanted criminal, for example [[:zh:陳進興|陳進興 (Chén Jìnxīng)]], a common name used by not only a convicted kidnapper and murderer who was executed in Taiwan for [[Murder of Pai Hsiao-yen|major crimes in 1997]] ([[:zh:陳進興 (台灣罪犯)]]) but also a Taiwanese statesman ([[Chen Chin-hsing]]).
*Since 2015, acknowledgement by father or adoption starts or ends.
*Having special reasons,<ref>Clause 6 of Section 1 of Article 7 of the ''Name Act'' (2001), amended into Clause 6 of Section 1 of Article 9 of the ''Name Act'' (2015).</ref> which is limited to thrice since 2015 (twice since 2001) in one's lifetime, while the second given name change of this type requires the age of majority.<ref>Section 2 of Article 7 of the ''Name Act'' (2001), amended into Section 2 of Article 9 of the ''Name Act'' (2015).</ref>

====Replacing documents====
Diplomas, work experience documents, licenses, permits, and other such documents shall use a person's legal name to avoid being deemed invalid,<ref>Article 3 of the ''Name Act'' (1953), amended into Article 4 of the ''Name Act'' (2001), then amended into [https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawSearchContent.aspx?pcode=D0030011&norge=6 Article 6] of the ''Name Act'' (2015).</ref> so those intending to change names have to note that:

Licensed Taiwanese driver who legally changes the name without reporting to the competent traffic authority is fined 300 to 600 [[new Taiwan dollar]]s and asked to re-register the legal name.<ref>[https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawSearchContent.aspx?pcode=K0040012&norge=25 Article 25] of the ''Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act'' amended in 1986 and effective on January 1, 1987, having increased the administrative fine from 30 to 150 new Taiwan dollars effective on May 1, 1968, per Clause 1 of Article 31 of the same ''Act'', and 150 to 300 new Taiwan dollars per Article 25 of the amendment in 1975 effective on January 1, 1976.</ref>
{{Wikibooks|Annotated Republic of China Laws/Passport Act/2015}}
[[Taiwan passport#Data page|Taiwan passports]] are to be replaced after having changed the names.<ref>Clause 3 of Section 1 of Article 19 of the ''Passport Act'' fully amended in 2015 effective on January 1, 2016, from Clause 3 of Section 1 of Article 15 of the ''Passport Act'' effective on May 21, 2000.</ref>

Registration of change in name of the right holder having been changed after a land right has been registered, shall be applied; the same shall apply to the change of the name of administrator.<ref>Section 1 of [https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawSearchContent.aspx?pcode=D0060003&norge=149 Article 149] of the ''Regulations of The Land Registration''</ref>

====Overseas application====
{{Wikibooks|Annotated Republic of China Regulations/Enforcement Rules of the Name Act}}
A [[national without household registration]] may apply for name change outside Taiwan at a [[List of diplomatic missions of Taiwan|Taiwanese diplomatic mission]], but having had [[household registration in Taiwan]] may apply there only to forward a name change application to the Household Registration Office covering the last Taiwanese address of residency,<ref>The last Section of Article 4 of the ''Enforcement Rules of the Name Act'' since 2001.</ref> which is a better method only if no risk of discrepancies among Taiwanese documents, so anyone having considerable Taiwanese documents should still change the name in person at Taiwanese Household Registration Office, to also replace the [[National identification card (Taiwan)|National Identification Card]], [[Healthcare in Taiwan|healthcard card]], driver license, etc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-24-145-2695c-1.html |title=國外申請護照相關資訊：一般人民換發 |date=October 28, 2019 |website=[[Bureau of Consular Affairs (Taiwan)|Bureau of Consular Affairs]] |access-date=November 22, 2019 |language=zh-hant}}</ref>

=== Israel ===
Israeli law determine that every adult over the age of 18 that does not have a guardianship can submit a request for a name change. A person who changed their name cannot change it again until 7 years passed unless they have a special approval from [[Ministry of Interior (Israel)|Minister of Interior]]. In case of adoption, the adopting family cannot change the child's name unless the court ruled otherwise. In case of marriage, a person can change their last name, change back to the [[Maiden and married names|maiden name]] or add their spouse's last name to theirs at any time. A minor whom parents changed their last name gets the new last name of their parents, and a minor that one of their parents changed their last name to match the other parent get the mutual last name, the minister is allowed to disapprove the new name if they believe the name may be misleading or offensive. The minister is not allowed to disapprove a name change if the name was chosen to accommodate [[Common-law marriage]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Naor |first=Moshe |date=2016 |title=The Israeli Names Law: National Integration and Military Rule |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/israelstudies.21.2.06 |journal=Israel Studies |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=133–154 |doi=10.2979/israelstudies.21.2.06 |jstor=10.2979/israelstudies.21.2.06 |issn=1084-9513}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Levush |first=Ruth |date=2017-10-05 |title=What's in a[n Israeli] name? {{!}} In Custodia Legis |url=https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2017/10/whats-in-an-israeli-name/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=The Library of Congress}}</ref>

In case of a minor who want to change their first name, may do this with a detailed reason for the change of name, and a consent from both their parents and a verbal and written consent of the child, if the minor is under 10 years old the child doesn't need to come with the parents to change their name.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Change your first name |url=https://www.gov.il/en/service/name_change |website=Gov.il}}</ref>

An adult convicted of a sex offense isn't allowed to change their name as part of "the public protection law against committing sex offenses".<ref>{{Cite web |title=חוק הגנה על הציבור מפני ביצוע עבירות מין – ויקיטקסט |url=https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%94_%D7%A2%D7%9C_%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%A0%D7%99_%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%A2_%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9F |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=he.wikisource.org |language=he}}</ref>