Change of surname is not uncommon. Most often, this procedure is associated with marriage or divorce. Another question is whether a person can change his surname for any other reason and what grounds in this case are valid.
Reasons for changing the surname
Good reasons for changing the surname of a Russian citizen are:
- marriage (the most popular case);
- divorce and change of surname to premarital;
- difficult to pronounce surname (especially for citizens who came from other countries);
- dissonant surname (sometimes people get bored of wearing the surname Kozyulin, Kakaev or Otryzhkin, this is often associated with bad memories from childhood);
- the desire to take the name of the stepfather or stepmother by whom the person was actually brought up;
- death of a spouse and adoption of a premarital surname, etc.
The whole process of changing both the first and patronymic and the last name is subject to the family code. If the change of surname is not related to the marriage, the procedure may be delayed.
In fact, there are a great many reasons for changing the surname, and almost all of them can be considered valid. However, the procedure for changing the surname itself requires serious paperwork.
The nuances of changing the name
To change the surname of a child under the age of fourteen, a statement from the parents and the permission of the child himself are required (applies to children who are over ten years old).
Also, the application must be accompanied by a receipt for payment of the state fee, a certificate of birth, marriage or divorce.
A minor citizen who has reached the age of fourteen can change his surname with the consent of his parents or guardians. At the same time, if they cannot be present in person, an explanatory note with a signature and seal at the place of work or residence must be attached to the application.
It all starts with a standard trip to the registry office, where an application is submitted in accordance with the 15th form. This application contains all personal data and the reasons for the change of surname.
On the basis of the issued certificate of change of surname, you must apply for a replacement passport to the FMS within one calendar month.
The application is considered within a month, after which the registry office notifies the citizen in writing of a positive or negative decision. In case of refusal, all submitted documents are returned, as well as the grounds for refusal are communicated and information is provided on the appeal of the decision.
Therefore, if your surname suddenly ceases to please you, you have the right to change it to another, however, you need to be patient and have a baggage of good reasons.
