How to legally change a minor's name in Ontario
Are you considering a legal name change for your child in Ontario? Whether it's for personal reasons or to align with family changes, the process can seem daunting. However, with the right guidance, it can be a straightforward endeavor. In this post, we'll walk you through the steps required to change your child's name in Ontario and how Downtown Notary can help you.
Eligibility Criteria
Before delving into the process, it's crucial to ensure your child meets the eligibility criteria for a name change:
Residency: Your child must have lived in Ontario for at least the past 12 months, or since birth if they're under one year old.
Age: The child must be 17 years old or younger and not married.
Consent: If the child is 12 years of age or older, they must consent to the name change.
Legal Status: There should be no court orders or separation agreements prohibiting the name change.
Consent and Notification
Each adult with legal custody of the child must provide consent for the name change. Additionally, every person with lawful access to the child must be notified in writing of the intended name change. If there are existing court orders or written agreements regarding custody, access, or the child's name, photocopies of these documents must be provided.
Application Process
To initiate the name change process for a child in Ontario, follow these steps:
Fill Out Forms: Print and complete the Application to Change a Child’s Name along with the Requirements for a Police Record Check for a Change of Name. You can download a the application from the Government of Ontario’s website: Application to Change a Child’s Name
Complete the Statutory Declaration form: The Application to Change a Child’s Name contains a statutory declaration that must be signed by the person submitting the application in front of a commissioner for taking oaths or a notary public. The notary public then notarizes the statutory declaration.
Submit Documents: Once the forms are completed and the statutory declaration is notarized, submit them along with the required documents and payment to ServiceOntario. This can be done by mail or in person at the designated ServiceOntario center.
Cost: The fee for a child's name change application is $137. However, if submitted concurrently with a parent's name change application, the cost reduces to $22.
For more information on the process for changing a child’s name in Ontario, visit the Government of Ontario’s website, Change Name.
Documents You'll Receive
Upon approval of the name change application, you'll receive a Change of Name Certificate for your child. This certificate indicates both the previous name and the new name. It can be used to update your child's name on various personal documents, such as their health card.
Additionally, every individual born in Ontario who changes their name will receive a new birth certificate reflecting the new name. This birth certificate does not include parental information. If you require a birth certificate with parental details or a certified copy of the birth registration, you can apply for it separately.
For individuals born outside Ontario, the notice of name change is forwarded to the vital statistics office in the respective province or territory (except Quebec) of birth. You'll need to apply to that office to obtain a new birth certificate.
How Downtown Notary can help
Navigating and completing the application form can be a stressful and daunting process. Downtown Notary helps simplify the application process by providing you with easy and simple notary services so you can complete the statutory declaration quickly and easily - in five minutes or less!
Take action today
If you're in the process of applying to change a child’s name in Ontario and need help with the statutory declaration, book an appointment with Downtown Notary. Our notary appointments ensure that you have a witness for this important part of the name change application for children. Best of all? You can choose from an in-person or online notary appointment.
Contact Downtown Notary now to schedule your notary appointment and navigate the name change process with confidence!
