Bahamas - Change Your Name (Deed Poll)

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. For Change of Name the applicant will have to seek the assistance of an attorney to draw up the deed poll document.
2. A notice of “intent to change name by deed poll” is then posted in the Guardian and Tribune (daily papers) by the attorney or applicant.
3. Family Island applicants are to register their intent with the Administrator’s Office and post notice in local papers.
4. The applicant has to wait for thirty days, to allow the public, an opportunity to register its comments with the Passport Office.
5. In the case of minors, the Deed Poll document and notice of “intent to change name by deed poll” must be drawn up, and posted respectively, on their behalf by their legal guardian.
6. A package that includes relevant documents from the above list is prepared for registration of the deed poll document at the Registrar-General’s Department.
7. Once the new name or surname is accepted, you may proceed in registering your new name.
8. On the approval of the Name Change, the applicant has to start changing his name on all his identification documents (e.g. drivers licence, passport etc.) and with government departments and other organisations.
   

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Required Documents

• Application addressed to the Registrar
• Newspaper Advertisements
• Certificate of Criminal Record
• Request Addressed to the Minister of Justice
• Identity Card (original and photocopy)
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Registrar Generals Department
Office of the Attorney General & Ministry of Legal Affairs
Shirley House50
Shirley Street
P. O. Box N-532
Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
[email protected]
Web Site: LINK
Phone: (242) - 397-9143-58, 397-8995, 397-9126, 397-8953 397-9178, 397-9162, 397-9178
Fax: (242) - 322-5553
Contact address Details:Contact Link
Contact Address Details:Contact Link

Eligibility

There is no eligibility for this criteria. Every individual adult/children can change their names legally.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Applicant has to wait for 30 days after posting the “intent to change name by deed poll” in the daily papers.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

• Applicant Name as listed on birth certificate or immigration or citizenship documents
• The new name the applicant is applying for
• Date and place of birth
• Places of residence
• Address for Correspondence
  

Need for the Document

Please provide the need for the procedure. e.g. Birth Certificate - why do we need to have a birth certificate?

Information which might help

A person can legally change his name to whatever name you'd like. There are some exceptions, though:

• You can't change your name just to escape debt liability or to hide from criminal liability.
• You can't change your name in order to commit a crime.
• You can't change your name with the intention to mislead. This usually involves taking the name of a famous person. Courts typically do not allow this, unless you have a convincing reason that is not related to the famous person or the use of his or her name.
• You can't choose a confusing name one that includes numerals or punctuation. However, some courts have permitted people to spell out the numbers, for example "Seven" instead of "7".
• You can't choose a name that would intimidate, offend, or be considered obscene.
• You can't choose a racial slur.
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Website Link

Others

Legally you can start using your new name whenever you like within the community, and this is called "name by association". It's just not possible to change your name on your identity documents and with organisations until you have proof of your name change (by way of your Change of Name Certificate).