Change in name after marriage
sam
(Querist) 05 January 2015
This query is : Resolved
Is it compulsory to change name after marriage in Hindu Family?
If any lady does not want to change name after marriage what prefix(Mrs or Ms) can be used in legal documents like passport etc.
My sister has not changed her name after marriage. whenever she write "Mrs. X(sister's name) Y(Father name) Z(father's surname)" it is misunderstood as she is wife of Mr Y Z which is wrong.
What is the legal solution for this?
Anirudh
(Expert) 05 January 2015
There is no legal solution. Normally only unmarried lady will put as Ms. name, father name, surname.
But after marriage, even if she does not want to suffix her husbands name, she cannot write as Mrs. (her name) and then Father's name plus surname. If she simply writes Mrs. Her name + surname there will not be any confusion. In that case the queStion of mistaking her to be the wife of her father! does not arise.
The problem crops only when she puts after Mrs...., the name of her father also, instead of surname alone.
sam
(Querist) 05 January 2015
Thanks for the reply Anirudha.
Is it mandatory to change name after marriage? What legal problems can arise if my sister keeps her before marriage name in documents like passport,adhar card,pan card etc? Passport has spouse name option in last page.
Devajyoti Barman
(Expert) 06 January 2015
There is no legal impediment if your sister continues to use the same name and surname which she was using before the marriage.
No legal force is in operation warranting the change of surname of a lady after marriage.
Guest
(Expert) 06 January 2015
Well Advised by Mr.Devajyoti Barman Expert.
Rajendra K Goyal
(Expert) 06 January 2015
There is no legal compulsion to change name after marriage.
Suggestion from expert Anirudh is practical, after marriage she can use her maiden name without fathers name / removing father's name from middle.
In the passport it is always better to get the name of the spouse endorsed.
sam
(Querist) 06 January 2015
Thanks experts..
T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate
(Expert) 09 January 2015
As properly advised by experts, there is no compulsion or legal impediment that a lady has to change her maiden name after her marriage. If there arises confusion due to her present name, she has to face and clear them, there is no legal solution for such sundry issues.
P. Venu
(Expert) 17 January 2015
There are no statutory provisions as to the name of a person. It is not mandatory nor even directory that a person should have a surname or that a lady should change her name after marriage or that she should use her father's or husband's surname.
