gov.bc.ca Order a Certificate of Change of Name Canada : Province of British Columbia

Name of the Organization : Province of British Columbia
Type of Facility : Order a Certificate of Change of Name
Country : Canada

Website : http://www.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events/legal-changes-of-name/certificate-of-change-of-name
Application Form : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/25694-namechange.pdf

Certificate of Change of Name :

** The Certificate of Change of Name is the document you will show whenever you are asked for proof of your legal change of name.

Related : Province of British Columbia Apply for a Birth Certificate : www.statusin.org/25691.html

** For instance, you will need to produce this when changing your name on your driver’s licence.
** Vital Statistics mails you a Certificate of Change of Name free of charge after processing your legal change of name application.
** If you lose this certificate or need an additional one, you can order one from Vital Statistics.

Who can Order a Certificate of Change of Name :
You can order a change of name certificate if you are :
** the person who changed his or her name;
** a parent of a child under 19 years of age;
** someone with written authorization of the person who changed his or her name;
** a guardian with a copy of guardianship papers; or
** an executor of the person’s estate upon proof of death and executorship.

How to Order a Certificate of Change of Name :
** After you have confirmed that you are eligible to receive a certified copy of a Certificate of Change of Name, you can apply in any one of the following three ways

By Mail :
Send a completed Application for Change of Name Certificate (VSA 430N) form (PDF, 532KB) with payment to:
Vital Statistics Agency
PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 9P3
In Person

** Go to any Service BC Counter.

** You do not need to fill out an application, but will need to provide the customer service representative with the same details about the change of name that are requested on the Application for Change of Name Certificate (VSA 430N) form .

** You will also need to provide payment.

By Phone :
** Call the Vital Statistics Agency at (250) 952-2681 in Victoria or 1-888-876-1633 elsewhere in B.C. A credit card is required.

Cost & Processing Times :
Mail Delivery :
** $27 per certificate of change of name. Prints within 5 business days, plus mailing time from Victoria to you.

Courier Delivery :
** $60 per certificate of change of name.
** Prints the next business day, plus courier delivery time from Victoria to you.

Legal Change of Name Application :
** This section contains information about who can apply for a legal change of name, what steps are required, and what documentation you need to submit with your application.
** The average legal change of name application takes four to six weeks to process.
** We cannot process applications that are missing documentation or payment.

Situations Not Requiring a Legal Change of Name :
There are only a couple of circumstances in which you would need a legal change of name to take a spouse’s name:
** If you want to create a new surname by adding your birth surname as a middle name, or combining it with your spouse’s surname.
** e.g. Smith-Jones or Smith Jones; or
** If you want to update your immigration or citizenship documents to reflect a new name or a married surname.
** If you were born and/or married in B.C., changing your surname legally will change your surname on your birth certificate and your current marriage certificate.
** If you were born or married outside of B.C. but within Canada, contact your birth/marriage province to find out how it will affect your record.

Reverting to the Use of a Birth Surname :
** If you assume a spouse’s surname, you can choose to revert to the use of your birth surname at any time.
** To change your name on bank accounts, social insurance number, driver’s license, and other agencies, present your marriage certificate and birth certificate or Canadian Citizenship Certificate to prove the link between the two surnames.

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.)
** changing their own name, or the name of their child for whom they have custody who is 18 years of age or younger; and
** living in B.C. or having a permanent residence in B.C. for at least three months prior to the application date.