Affidavit of Name Change | Free Template

In Canada, people might want to change their name for several reasons, including the following:

• Marriage or divorce
• Cultural or religious reasons
• Adoption
• Entering a common-law relationship
• Personal preference
• Gender transition or gender identity affirmation
• Correcting spelling errors or inconsistencies across documents
• Aligning with a parent’s or guardian’s name
• Professional reasons, including consistent use across records
• Safety or privacy concerns
• Immigration or naturalization
• Reclaiming a former or ancestral name

You may need to provide an Affidavit of Name Change for a wide variety of reasons, including:

• Updating identification or records after a marriage or divorce
• Explaining different names across official documents
• Confirming a name change for educational institutions
• Updating financial institution or insurance records
• Applying for government services or benefits
• Explaining name differences for immigration or travel documents
• Updating employment or payroll information
• Updating records for professional licensing bodies
• Resolving identity discrepancies for background checks
• Providing proof of your name change for court or administrative proceedings

You’ll need to provide specific details to help institutions verify your identity and update their records. Each organization may have its own unique requirements. It’s best to confirm whether an Affidavit is sufficient or if additional documentation is needed.

Your Affidavit of Name Change should include the following information:

• Your current legal name (your new name)
• Your former name
• Your date of birth
• Your birthplace
• Your permanent address
• The ID you’re using for proof of identity
• Your citizenship status
• A statement confirming that both names refer to the same individual
• A commissioning section completed by an authorized official
• The recipient organization (where your Affidavit is going)
• Your signature

Yes, an Affidavit of Name Change must be commissioned by an authorized official, like a notary public or commissioner of oaths. Your Affidavit isn’t considered valid until it’s commissioned. During commissioning, you’ll swear or affirm that the details in your Affidavit are accurate before the official.

You can meet with a notary public online to have your Affidavit of Name Change commissioned in under 7 minutes.

Commissioning confirms that:

• Your identity has been confirmed
• You have signed the Affidavit willingly and understand its contents
• You have sworn or affirmed that the information in your Affidavit is accurate

Once commissioned, the Affidavit carries the same legal weight as an oath provided in court. Providing false information in your Affidavit can be considered perjury — a serious offence in Canada.