Legal Change of Name Application

The Application for Change of Name accommodates many potential situations for a name change. Some parts of the application may not apply to you and may be left blank.

You can help us process your application smoothly by thoroughly reading this page, which provides you with information about who can apply, what steps are required, and what documentation is needed for your particular situation, including consent and fingerprints.

The average legal change of name application takes four to six weeks to process. We cannot process applications that are missing documentation or payment.

Who can Apply for a Legal Change of Name?

To be eligible for a legal change of name, applicants must:

• be 19 years of age or older;
  Exception: If you are younger than 19 years old and a parent with custody of your child, you may apply for a legal change of name.
• be changing their own name, or the name of their child for whom they have custody who is 18 years of age or younger; and
• have lived in B.C. or had a permanent residence here for at least three months immediately before the application date.

How to Apply for a Legal Change of Name

These are the basic steps for applying to change your name legally.

1. Read the instructions included in the Application for Change of Name (VSA 529) form (PDF, 476KB) and look through the application first without filling anything out. Make a note of which documents, waivers, or signatures you need to obtain to complete the application.
2. Complete the application. All applicants must complete Parts1 (a) and (b). If you are a parent changing the name of your child, you must also complete Part 2.
3. Submit the Application for Change of Name along with the required documents and payment in one of the following two ways:

By Mail

Vital Statistics Agency
PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9P3
ATTN: CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES

In Person

Go to any Service BC location.

Cost

The cost of a legal change of name includes a Certificate of Name Change listing the old and new names of all individuals involved in the application.

It does not include the cost of:

• Fingerprinting
• Criminal record checks
• Witnessing your signature on a statutory declaration
• Certifying documents
• New identification following the name change

Note: Service BC representatives can witness your signature, and copy and certify documents to submit with your application for a small fee.

Required Documentation

The table below describes the different types of applicants for name changes. Every time a description on the left side of the table matches your circumstance, you should submit the documentation listed to its right in the table.

Required Consent when Changing a Child’s Name

Requesting a Waiver of Parental Consent

The Name Act allows for consideration of a waiver of the other parent's consent. The following is a list of situations for which a waiver of parental consent may be approved. If you would like to request a waiver of the other parent’s consent, consider which situation described below best describes yours and provide all the requested information.

Situation A

The person whose consent is required is not recorded on the birth registration of the child whose name is to be changed (Section 4.6 of the Name Act).

What you need to provide:

• If the child was born in Canada, you must provide an original birth certificate showing parentage.
• If the child was born outside of Canada, you must provide a certified photocopy of the child’s birth documents showing parentage. If the birth documents are not in English, you must provide a translated version from an accredited individual.

Situation B

The person whose consent is required cannot be located after a reasonable, diligent and adequate search has been conducted as demonstrated by the statutory declaration and supporting evidence maintained in the change of name file (Section 4.5(a) of the Name Act).

What you need to provide:

• A copy of a court order, showing you have custody of your child.
• The statutory declaration from page 6 of the Application for Change of Name (VSA 529) form (PDF, 476KB). On the statutory declaration, you must:

1. include the mailing address and any other contact information for the parent whose consent is to be waived. If you are unaware of the other parent’s whereabouts, search his or her name on Canada411.ca using Canada as the location, and submit a printout of the results;
2. indicate if you receive child support. If you are registered with the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP), you must include a copy of your most recent statement; and
3. explain all efforts you have made to contact the other parent, including contact with relatives, email contact, etc.

• A brief letter written by the child if he or she is 12 years of age or older. Have your child describe why he or she would like a change of name.

Situation C

The person whose consent is required is deceased, proven by a copy of a death certificate maintained in the change of name file (Section 4.6 of the Name Act).

What you need to provide:

• A copy of the death certificate of the person whose consent is to be waived.

Situation D

A person whose consent is required is unreasonably withholding their consent (Section 4(5)(b) of the Name Act).

What you need to provide:

• A copy of a court order, showing you have custody of your child.
• The statutory declaration from page 6 of the Application for Change of Name (VSA 529) form (PDF, 476KB). On the statutory declaration, you must:

1. include the mailing address and any other contact information for the parent whose consent is to be waived;
2. indicate if you receive child support. If you are registered with the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP), you must include a copy of your most recent statement; and
3. explain all efforts you have made to contact the other parent, including contact with relatives, email contact, etc.

• A brief letter written by the child if he or she is 12 years of age or older. Have your child describe why he or she would like a change of name.

Situation E

A person whose consent is required is mentally disordered, as demonstrated by statutory declaration and supporting evidence (Section 4.5(a) of the Name Act).

What you need to provide:

• A copy of a court order, showing you have custody of your child.
• A letter from a physician/court order stating that the person whose consent is to be waived is incapable of understanding what he or she would be signing.

Situation F

Exceptional circumstances make it unreasonable to seek the consent of the required individual (Section 4(6) of the Name Act).

What you need to provide:

• A copy of a court order, showing you have custody of your child.
• One of the following:
  • A court ordered no contact order.
  • A court ordered restraining order.
  • A letter from the police indicating you would be in danger if you attempted to contact the parent whose consent is required.

Note: The requirements identified here are a guide only and the registrar general of the Vital Statistics Agency has the authority to ask for additional information.

Note: Statements made in a statutory declaration are considered the equivalent of statements made in a court of law and may provide the basis for action against the applicant if they are proven to be fraudulent.

Fingerprint Information

If you are both 18 years of age or older AND are changing your name, the Name Act requires you to have your fingerprints taken as part of a criminal record check. If you have a criminal record, the name change is noted in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database. Fingerprints are only used for the purpose required by the Name Act and confirmation of the criminal record review is returned to the applicant directly from the RCMP.

Effective July 1, 2014, only electronic fingerprints are accepted. You can have your fingerprints taken electronically at any of the following facilities:

• Most RCMP detachments
• Vancouver Police
• Victoria Police
• Any RCMP-accredited fingerprinting company or its affiliate who submit fingerprints electronically for the purposes of criminal record checks. For a list of accredited companies and information about affiliates, visit: www.rcmp.gc.ca/cr-cj/index-eng.htm

What to Submit with your Change of Name Application

Different agencies may charge different amounts for fingerprinting, but a criminal record check is always $25. Pay these fees directly to the agency you have chosen to take your electronic fingerprints and perform a criminal record check.

Once you have paid for the fingerprinting service and criminal record check, the fingerprinting official will give you a receipt. Submit a photocopy of the original receipt with your application.