When women change their name after marriage, the registered name on the birth cert has to be changed - Saneem

A woman has questioned why women cannot show their marriage certificate as proof of their name for voter registration as the name on the birth certificate is chosen by the parents when their baby is born, thus there should not be a requirement for them to change their name on the birth certificate.

While speaking on Radio Sargam’s talk-back show, Aamne Saamne, the woman said she has changed her name after marriage and told the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem that the marriage certificate should be used to verify the name instead of the need to change name on the birth certificate.

She says is it confusing as when they add the surname after marriage, why the marriage certificate cannot be used for verification.

While responding, Saneem says a marriage certificate carries a woman’s spinster name and her husband’s name and it does not have the woman’s changed name.

Saneem says when women change their name after marriage, the registered name on the birth certificate has to be changed.

He says if people want to adopt any surname not only by the virtue of marriage, then they will have to make amendments to the birth certificate for official purposes.

While speaking on the Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan on the 17th of this month, Saneem says if someone wants to use a name that is not on the birth certificate, they can assist them with the change of name. He says it is free of charge.

Saneem adds if someone turns 18, and wants to use a name they like, they are entitled to change their name as per their wish with no questions asked. He says it is the right for someone to have a name they like.