Organization : Prince Edward Island Department of Health & Wellness
Type of Facility : Name Change
Country: Canada
Website: http://www.gov.pe.ca/vitalstatistics/index.php3?number=1020359&lang=E
Name Change (Legal) :
Types of Name Changes:
In Prince Edward Island there are three types of name changes that can be made:
** Legal change of name for childen and adults (first name and/or surname)
** Altering or adding a given name from what was previously recorded on the birth registration.
Related : Department of Health & Wellness Death Registration & Certificate Prince Edward Island : www.statusin.org/8441.html
** Proof of this name change must be recorded within 10 years of the date of birth. It applies to both children and adults. Learn more about birth registration amendments.
** Change of name for marriage
What is required to apply for a legal change of name for adults?:
You must be:
** 18 years of age or older,
** not in the lawful custody of another person, and
** have resided in the province of Prince Edward Island for at least three months immediately preceding the application.
What is required to apply for a legal change of name for a child (a minor, under 18 years of age)?:
** the child must have resided in the province of Prince Edward Island for at least three months immediately preceding the application,
** only a legal custodian of the child can apply for the change of name,
** the application must be accompanied by written consent of any other person who has lawful custody and any parent who is lawfully entitled to access to, the person whose name is to be changed,
** if the child whose name is to be changed is 12 years of age or older the child must provide written consent to change his/her name.
How long does the process take?:
The application process for a legal change of name can take up to three months to complete.
Application Requirements:
When applying for a legal change of name you must provide the following:
** the present and proposed names, in full, of the person whose name is to be changed;
** the date and place of birth of the person whose name is to be changed;
** details with respect to any previous change of name of the person whose name is to be changed;
** the applicant’s full name and address and place of ordinary residence at the time of making the application and the length of residence in the province;
** proof of lawful custody of the person and the relationship between the applicant and the person, if the person whose name is to be changed is a child (minor).
Applications must also include the prescribed fee and supporting documentation:
** for children, written consent (of any person who has lawful custody and any parent who is lawfully entitled to access to, the person whose name is to be changed and any child 12 years of age or older)
** if the person whose name is to be changed was born outside of PEI, a detailed birth certificate containing parent information;
** proof of residency (PEI Health card, citizenship card, etc.)
** all previously issued birth certificates, marriage certificates and change of name certificates from another province, territory, state or country
Registration and Publication of Change of Name:
Except where special circumstances warrant, all registered name changes are:
** published in the Royal Gazette,
** provided to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and such other police authorities as may be prescribed,
** filed with the registrar of deeds for the county in which the person whose name is to be changed resides,
** provided to the Director of Maintenance Enforcement appointed under the Maintenance Enforcement Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. M-1, and
** provided to such other authorities as may be prescribed.
When the name change has been completed and registered a Certificate of Change of Name will be issued identifying the previous name and the new name that has been registered. All birth certificates issued after the registering of a change of name will bare the new name.
Persons born in another province/territory or state who apply for a change of name in Prince Edward Island must pay a notification fee as part of their change of name application. This notification fee covers the cost associated with providing required documentation to the Vital Statistics Registry where the applicant was born and where the original birth documents preside.
How do I change my child’s name if they are younger than 10 years of age?:
If you do not meet the requirements for Amending the Birth Registration or Altering/Adding a Given Name to the Birth Registration, your only option is a legal change of name (above).
Change of Name Fees:
Application for Change of Name (adult or child – first person in family) $185
Application for Change of Name (adult or child – each additional person in family) $100
Registering a Change of Name that has taken place outside the province of PEI $25
Notifying province of birth after legal change of name completed in PEI $25
Change of Name Certificate $35
Service Location:
Applications for a Legal Name Change can only be obtained by contacting the Vital Statistics Office at 1-877-320-1253 (toll free in Canada) or by dropping into the Montague (Main) Office. Fees and applications must be dropped off at Vital Statistics once completed.
Access PEI does not have applications and cannot collect fees to process a legal change of name.