Changing one’s name can be an important step, whether it is to be carried out for personal, professional, or legal reasons. Within the UAE context, the procedure must be executed through drafting a name change affidavit and subsequently notarizing it. This article explains the required steps, the importance of notarization, and key considerations required for notarization of a name change affidavit in the UAE.
What is a Name Change Affidavit?
A name change affidavit is a type of legal document regarding the declaration of intention for changing the name of a person. Normally, it is sworn in front of a notary or some other authorized person.
Common reasons for the changing of a name include:
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- Marriage: Most of the time, women take up the surname of their husband after marriage.
- Divorce: Women revert back to their maiden name or altogether take up a new name.
- Legal Reasons: In some instances, the change of name may be an issue ordered by the court due to certain legal proceedings one is undergoing.
- Personal Preferences: Some people simply want to change their names for personal reasons.
Importance of Notarization
Notarization simply means that the notary public has verified your document and your identity. This is a rather important step because it ensures that:
- There is No fraud: It ensures the document is not forged.
- Legal credibility: A notarized document has legal standing and is presumed valid and true unless a party challenges such a presumption.
- Legal Procedures: Most legal and administrative processes demand notarized documents.
Steps to get your name change Affidavit Notarized in the UAE
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Drafting the Affidavit
The first step is to draft your name change affidavit. You may do it yourself or engage the services of an attorney to make sure everything is as per the law. Such an affidavit shall contain:
- Your current full name
- Your desired new name
- The reason for the name change
- An affirmation that one does not intend to change the name with fraudulent purposes.
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Preparing Supporting Documents
In support of your affidavit, you need to gather several documents. Among these are:
- Proof of identification: includes a passport, Emirates ID, or any other identification issued by the government.
- Proof of residence: Utility bills, rental agreements, or any document which can prove your address.
- Existing legal documents: Birth certificate, marriage certificate—if any—and all other related documents.
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Translation of Documents
All the documents in the UAE must be in Arabic. In case the documents are in another language, they should be legally translated into Arabic. Legal Documents that need to be translated into Arabic in the UAE must be translated by an accredited legal translator listed in the UAE Ministry of Justice for accuracy and legal recognition.
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Visiting a Notary Public
Once your affidavit is ready and complete with all the necessary attachments, you will then go before a notary public. In the UAE, you could either visit a public notary or approach a private notary service, such as Notary Public Dubai.
- Notary Public: Public notaries are available at many government offices. It is a good idea to call in advance and book an appointment. You could expect some waiting time.
- Private Notary: Private notaries like Notary Public Dubai assist with attestation services with greater flexibility. They also provide e-notary attestation services to make the process of notarizing documents faster and more convenient.
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Notarization Process
You will be required to do the following in the notary office:
- Provide the affidavit and its supporting documents.
- Verify your identity through ID documents.
- Sign the affidavit in front of a notary.
- Pay the required fee for the notarization process.
Thereafter, the notary stamps and signs your affidavit, making it a legally recognized document.
Read more about – How to get an Affidavit for same person with different name?
Common Challenges and Solutions
- Document Rejection: Not having your documents in order, or in the case of discrepancies, the notary can reject your affidavit. To avoid such situations, ensure all of your documents are proper and complete.
- Language Barriers: This could be a difficult process if one is not fluent in Arabic. Being able to hire a legal professional or, importantly, a private notary service that can also provide translation assistance serves as an enabling factor in this regard.
- Legal Requirements: Some requirements may further vary from one emirate to another. It is prudent to check the requirements of your place or seek advice from a legal professional.
These steps followed, together with the services of Notary Public Dubai, will help you to get your affidavit regarding your name change properly notarized and legally recognized by the UAE.
How Notary Public Dubai can assist You
Notary Public Dubai will provide full notary services to make the process of notarizing your name change affidavit as smooth as possible. Here’s how we can help:
- E-Notary Services: Access to our e-notary services, whereby the notarizing of documents could be availed online, making the process all the more efficient and smooth.
- Expertise: Our team of experienced notaries and attorneys will help make sure your documents conform to all legal requirements.
- Effective: We provide quick, secure services through electronic transactions and attestations.
- Translation Services: We provide translation services to ensure that all your documents are translated correctly into Arabic.
Notary Public Dubai will help you in every respect with getting your name change affidavit attested in the UAE. Contact us today to schedule your appointment or to know more about their services. For further information, visit our website.
Hassan Humaid Al Suwaidi is a UAE Citizen and the founder of the firm HHS Lawyers. He has a vast experience of 20 years of dealing with high-value and complex notary requirements. Hassan has been involved in some of the largest legal settlements in the UAE and is commended for his ability to attain the most favourable outcomes for his clients.