You need only two things before you can publish a newspaper ad for name change: a notarised name change affidavit, and a clear instruction from the office that asked for the ad. This guide to the documents required for name change ad in newspaper walks through both, step by step, so the notice is right the first time.
The affidavit always comes first. Most offices accept it only if it is recent — often within six months of your application — so get it made close to the time you apply rather than long in advance. Once the affidavit is ready, you can book your name change ad in newspaper online, and it will print in the city edition you choose.
Readers who ask “is affidavit required for name change ad” should know the answer is yes. The ad is not a standalone announcement; it is a public notice of a change you have already declared under oath. Everything below follows from that one fact.
What documents are required for a name change ad in newspaper?
Strictly speaking, the only document you prepare yourself is the notarised affidavit. It is a sworn statement, signed before a notary, in which you declare your old name and your new name. You arrange it with a notary yourself.
Why does it come first? Because the office that asked for the ad — passport, gazette, school, or bank — will see both the affidavit and the published notice, so the two must say the same thing. So the order matters: affidavit first, ad second. Book the newspaper advertisement for name change only after the affidavit is signed and sealed.
What must the affidavit state?
The affidavit must state these five things clearly:
- your old name, exactly as it appears in your existing records
- your new name, the one you want to use from now on
- your father’s or husband’s name
- your full residential address
- the date on which it was sworn before the notary
Recency matters as much as content. Most offices accept an affidavit only if it is recent, often within six months of the date you apply. If yours is old, get a fresh one made before you book the ad.
How many newspapers does my office need?
This depends entirely on the office that asked for the ad, and you must ask them directly. There is no single national rule. Many passport cases need two newspapers: one English daily and one regional-language daily. Other offices accept a single notice.
Do not guess, and do not book before you know. One phone call or visit to the office saves you the cost and the delay of publishing twice. When you ask, also confirm which city edition they want. A classified ad prints only in the city edition that is booked — a “Delhi edition” may not reach Gurgaon or Greater Noida — so the edition must circulate in your own district.
What are the steps, in order?
- Get the affidavit notarised. Visit a notary with your old and new names, your father’s or husband’s name, and your address. You decide the wording; the notary witnesses and seals it.
- Ask the office what it needs. How many newspapers, which editions, and how recent the affidavit must be — get this in writing if you can.
- Publish the ad. Fill in the format exactly as the affidavit reads, then pay online. The price you see before payment is the price you pay: most name change ads cost Rs 300 to Rs 700 plus 5% GST, depending on the newspaper, the city edition, and the number of words.
- Wait for the printing date. After payment, the ad goes for the newspaper’s editorial approval and prints on the next available date — often the next day when you book before the cut-off.
- Save the published notice. Download the page from the newspaper’s e-paper, with its date and edition, or buy a printed copy.
- Submit it with your application. Attach the published notice, the affidavit, and the GST invoice, which is emailed to you after payment.
What does releaseMyAd do — and what does it not do?
releaseMyAd is the authorised online platform for booking newspaper ads in 280+ Indian newspapers. It gives you ready sample formats for a name change notice and publishes exactly the text you approve. After the newspaper’s editorial approval, the ad prints on the next available date.
What it does not do is equally important. It does not provide, draft, notarise, or translate the affidavit or the legal wording — the affidavit is yours to arrange with a notary. And it does not email or courier a copy of the newspaper to you; you save the e-paper page yourself.
What should I keep as proof for the office?
Keep three things together in one file:
- the published notice itself — the e-paper page showing the date and edition, or a printed copy of the newspaper
- the original notarised affidavit, which the ad must match
- the GST invoice emailed to you after payment, as proof of booking
Common questions
Is an affidavit required for a name change ad?
Yes. The affidavit is the legal basis of the change; the ad only announces it publicly. Get the affidavit notarised first, then publish the ad with the same details.
Can I publish the ad without asking my office?
You can, but you risk publishing the wrong thing. Offices differ on how many newspapers they want, which editions, and how recent the affidavit must be. Ask first, publish once.
Does the ad text have to match the affidavit exactly?
Yes. The ad must carry the same details as the affidavit: old name, new name, father’s or husband’s name, address, and the affidavit date. A mismatch is the thing to avoid.
Which newspapers can I choose from?
releaseMyAd carries name change ads in English dailies such as The Times of India, Hindustan Times and The Hindu; Hindi dailies such as Dainik Bhaskar and Amar Ujala; and regional papers including Anandabazar Patrika, Lokmat, Eenadu, Malayala Manorama and Daily Thanthi, among many others. Pick the edition that circulates in your district.
How long does publishing take?
After you pay online, the ad goes for the newspaper’s editorial approval and prints on the next available date — often the next day if you book before the cut-off.
Get the affidavit right, confirm what your office wants, publish the ad with matching details, and keep the printed notice safe. That is the whole process — and when you are ready to publish, the change-of-name ad booking page on releaseMyAd is where you place the order.