Your Guide to the Application to Change an Adult’s Name in Ontario

Key Takeaways

• An applicant for a name change in Ontario must be 16 years or older with at least 12 months of residence in the province.
• Name change applicants must submit a police record check together with their application and custodial consent if they are 16 or 17 years old.
• Married applicants and those who have signed a Joint Declaration of Conjugal Relationship must notify their partner/spouse about a potential name change.
• Once approved, an applicant will receive a change of name certificate and an updated birth certificate with their new name.
• Complete your Application to Change an Adult’s Name by using NotaryPro’s online notary services.

It is important to note that if:

• you’re 16 or 17 years old, you will need consent from each person who has legal custody of you before you can change your name;
• you’re married or have signed a Joint Declaration of Conjugal Relationship, you must give your partner/spouse notice that you’re changing your name; and
• you need a police record check as part of your legal name change application.

If your name change is approved, you will get:

• a change of name certificate showing your previous name and your new name. You can use this certificate to change your name on other personal documents such as your driver’s licence or credit cards; and
• a new birth certificate with your new name.

Does an Application to Change an Adult’s Name Need to be Commissioned?

Yes, an Application to Change an Adult’s Name must be commissioned by an authorized official, like a notary public. It contains a Statutory Declaration, where an applicant must swear or affirm that the information they’ve provided is true and accurate. It’s a criminal offence to provide false or misleading information, and your responsibility to ensure the information you provide is true.

Up until recently, Statutory Declarations were required to be signed and witnessed in person. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General is now permitting lawyers and notaries to witness the signing of Statutory Declarations online.

Once you’ve completed your application, you can book an online notary appointment to have the Statutory Declaration portion of your application commissioned.

Need to draft your document first? Get started with our Application to Change an Adult’s Name today!

At Notary Pro, we can help you complete the statutory declaration portion of your application by making a sworn statement before a notary public. We offer in-person notary services with +275 locations across Canada, and online commissioning for your convenience. If you need any further information, feel free to get in touch with us today!