Unravelling the Procedure: A Step-by-Step Guide to Change Name in Property Records

The decision to buy a property is one of the most important financial decisions of your life. While purchasing, it is important to register the property in your name by providing the correct details. What do you do if you decide to change your name after purchasing a property or if the spelling of your name is incorrectly mentioned in property records? Here is a helpful guide to understanding the process of name change in such cases.

What are property records?

Whenever you purchase a property through a sale deed or receive it as a gift through a gift deed, it is essential to register the agreement or deed at the local sub-registrar's office. You must pay the applicable stamp duty and registration fee during the registration process. The registration of the deed is crucial because it validates the transfer of property and confirms your legal ownership of the property. If there are any errors in your name spelling or if you change your name, it is imperative to update the property records with your correct name at the earliest. Let us look at how to change the name in the property records.

Reasons for change in name

There can be various reasons why a property owner may choose to change their name and update property documents. In India, it is common for a woman to adopt her husband's last name after marriage. Numerology is another reason why people often decide to change their names. Other reasons could include reverting to a maiden name after a divorce, opting for a more modern or shorter name, changing gender, or dropping caste-based last names.

When a property owner decides to change their name, it is essential to update the property records. This helps establish the property's ownership in case of any disputes, simplifies the subsequent sale or gift, and allows the owner to obtain a loan with the property as collateral when necessary.

Steps to legally change your name 

Step 1: The first step is to prepare an affidavit that clearly states your old name, new name, and the reason for the change, and may also mention some important documents where there is a discrepancy or error in the spelling of the name. This affidavit must be notarized by the local magistrate.

Step 2: You must now publish an advertisement informing the public of the name change. This must be done in two different publications or newspapers – one regional and one English. The advertisement must contain the old and new names.

Step 3: In some states, this must be followed by publishing a name change notification in the Gazette of India. If you are a state or central government employee, this is mandatory.

Changing name in property registration records

After completing the legal name change process, updating your land and property records is essential. To do this, you must visit the land registry office and submit an application along with self-attested copies of the notarised affidavit and copies of the advertisement or Gazette publication. The application must also be accompanied by a fee. The land registry office or sub-registrar will investigate the name change or spelling change to prevent any fraudulent transfer. Once this process is completed, your name will be updated in the land and property records.

How to change your name in property tax records?

Apart from the property documents, it is important to update the property tax records. As a land or property owner, you must pay property taxes to the local municipal corporation (in cities) or panchayat office (in villages) each year.

You must visit the local municipal corporation office to change your name in the property tax records. For example, if your property is in Mumbai, you must visit the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) office and in Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) office. Here, you must apply for a name change in property tax records along with the affidavit, the Gazette publication, and the updated land records to initiate the name change process. In some cities, this application can be made online. Once the record is updated, you will be notified through text message, post, and email.

Conclusion

When you buy a real estate property, it is a significant financial decision. To fully benefit from this purchase, it's essential to maintain and update all legal records on time. Understanding how to change the name in property records will help you maintain legal control of your property.