Procedure for changing family name by decree (legitimate reason) - In France
Verified 03 octobre 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
Your situation
- Change of surname
- Take a name other than those mentioned on your birth certificate
- You reside in France
Step-by-step approach
This is a request that only concerns the last name. You must have a legitimate reason to change that last name.
One other procedure applies in the following cases :
- You want to have the name of your parent who did not give you his or her name (simplified name change procedure). However, using the change of name procedure by decree does not prevent you from later requesting a change of name through the simplified procedure. Likewise, having obtained a name change through the simplified procedure does not prevent you from subsequently using the procedure of name change by decree.
- You want bear the name of your spouse (common name) .
- You want francize your first and last names by obtaining french nationality (francization).
The change of name procedure for legitimate reason applies to the following cases:
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General case
You can ask to change your name for the following reasons:
- You wear a name difficult to wear perceived as ridiculous or derogatory
- You have a name that has been made famous in the media and that is with a bad reputation
- You want avoid extinguishing alast name long-standing use in your family
- You want consecrate the constant and continuous use of a name that you have been using for a long time and that publicly identifies you. For example, you are a doctor known as Dr. Dupont while the name on your passport is Durand.
- You and your brothers and sisters have different names and you want have the same name. You must have the same father and mother. Applications from half-brothers or half-sisters are not accepted.
- You want avoid the consequences of the gravity of the acts for which your father or mother has been convicted.
Some emotional reasons may also, in exceptional circumstances, justify a change of name on legitimate grounds.
Warning
If you want to change a foreign-sounding name, check to see if you need to make a francization procedure.
To have the same name as the one worn abroad
You can ask to change your name if you wish bear the same name in the french civil status that the name on your foreigners birth certificate.
You are concerned if you are a person of foreign nationality, or binational born in France, or French born abroad.
The approach varies according to your place of birth.
You were born in France
Ask the town hall of your birthplace.
You were born abroad
If the central civil registry office holds your birth certificate
Ask the central civil registration service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Who shall I contact
Service central d'état civil (SCEC) - Unification of French and foreigners names
By mail
Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
Central Civil Registry Service
Operations Department
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
If Ofpra holds your birth certificate
Ask theOfpra: titleContent :
Who shall I contact
French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra)
On site
French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra)
201 Carnot Street
94136 Fontenay sous Bois Cedex
Reception of the public on summons
By phone
01 58 68 10 10
On the internet
https://ofpra.gouv.fr/contact-et-informations-pratiques
Infographie - I want to change my last name: what procedure?
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First situation: I wish to bear the name of the parent (father, mother) who did not transmit his.
For example, by adding the name of this parent to my current name, in the order I want.
I have to request a name change via the simplified name change procedure
Main features of the procedure:
- Duration: about one month
- Who to contact: town hall
- Cost: free
Second situation: I wish to have a name that is not that of one of my parents (father, mother) for a motivated reason (legitimate reason).
For example, my name is hard to bear.
Main features of the procedure:
- Duration: several months, sometimes several years
- Who to contact: Ministry of Justice
- Cost: paid (variable)
Namely: you can use the simplified name change procedure only once in your lifetime.
The situation varies if the name change request concerns a adult person, a adult and minor children, or only of minors.
In any case, you must have the french nationality.
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Adult person
Each adult must apply for a change of last name in its own name and create a personal file.
Therefore, 2 adults cannot make a single request to change their last name. For example, siblings.
The only exception is the protected majors.
The procedure is different if you want to use your spouse's name.
Adult person and minor children
Any French adult can ask to change their name for himself and his children.
If you have passed your name on to your children, they will also change their name if they are minors.
If the parents disagree, the parent who wishes to request the change of name must refer the matter to the family court judge ruling on the guardianship of minors.
If your minor children have 13 years and older, their written consent is required. You can use the following agreement template:
Consent of the minor aged 13 and over to change his/her name (model letter)
The procedure is different if you want to use your spouse's name.
Change of name of a minor
Anyone can ask to change the name of one of their own minor French children without changing his. For example, so that he bears the same name as his half-brothers and half-sisters.
It is not necessary for the applicant parent to be French. However, the child concerned must have French nationality.
Only the following persons may apply:
- Parents of the minor
- The minor's only parent
- His guardian. In this case, the authorization of the family council is necessary.
If the parents disagree, the parent who wishes to request the change of name must refer the matter to the family court judge ruling on the guardianship of minors.
If the minor has 13 years and older, his or her written personal consent is required. You can use the following agreement template:
Consent of the minor aged 13 and over to change his/her name (model letter)
Request via internet
The request for publication in the JORF is made online.
The online service is accessible via a Public Service account or FranceConnect.
FYI
In case of difficulty to apply online, you can do the procedure by post. The publication time is longer, between 5 and 10 days. The text of your ad must comply with a template precise.
Who shall I contact
Official Journal - Request for publication
By email
annonces.jorf@dila.gouv.fr
By post
DILA, DIRE - OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS
ASD #71641
75901Paris CEDEX 15
Price
The publication of an advance announcement of a change of name in the JORF is free of charge.
Publication deadline
From 3 to 5 days.
Access to the announcement after publication in the JORF
For access your ad and have the proof of its publication in the JORF, you can download free from the homepage of Legifrance site.
The signing certificate is embedded in the PDF file. You can therefore legally rely on the text once printed.
If you want to stop the renaming process
Given that your ad has already been published in the JORF, the cancelation of the publication is no longer possible.
FYI
Your advertisement published in the JORF is part of the documents to be attached to your name change request. If you do not send it to the Ministry of Justice, the name change process stops automatically. Your marital status will not be changed.
Choosing a medium authorized to receive legal notices (Shal)
You must publish your announcement on one support authorized to receive legal announcements Shal of your department of residence.
One Shal: titleContent is either a legal newspaper (Jal) or an online press service.
You can use the official Legal Advertising website to select a Shal:
Text of the name change announcement
The text of your ad must comply with a template precise.
You must indicate:
- Your current marital status
- If necessary, the civil status of your minor children concerned (surname, first names, date and place of birth)
- Your address
- The name(s) requested (you can indeed propose several names).
Price
The price publication of the announcement is a flat rate (€57 from 1er January 2025).
Proof of publication
In case of dematerialized publication, you must ask the Shal to send you a proof of publication once the ad is published.
The proof must mention an internet link or flash code used to authenticate the publication.
The proof is to be requested at the same time as the request for publication of the ad. You will need it to build the name change application file.
The process varies depending on whether the name of an adult or a minor is changed.
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Change the name of an adult
You must send your request for a name change to the Minister of Justice.
It is not mandatory to have a lawyer.
Who shall I contact
Your file should include the following documents:
- Slip summarizing all attachments to the folder. It shows your name, first names, address, phone number, and possibly your e-mail.
- Full copy of your birth certificate less than 3 months old
- Copy of a document proving that you have French nationality: copy of the national identity card or passport, certificate of french nationality, declaration of acquisition of French nationality or copy of the amplification of the naturalization decree
- Bulletin n°3 of the criminal record
- Printing the pdf file of the authenticated electronic OJ extract
- Full and original page(s) of the support authorized to publish a legal ad (Shal) or proof of publication of the advertisement after its publication.
If the publication is dematerialized, you must provide proof of publication of the ad after its publication, mentioning an internet link or flash code to authenticate the publication. - Query personal paper addressed to the Minister of Justice.
It must be dated and signed.
It must specify the reasons for abandoning the original name and the reasons for choosing the name requested.
If you are proposing several new names to the minister, you must indicate an order of precedence. Attach any document proving the validity of your request (family record, judgments...).
If you want to use a name in your family, you can provide a family tree. Attach copies of the civil status documents of the persons listed. Where these parts exist in a single original, a copy may be provided.
Change of the name of a minor
The approach varies depending on who presents the file.
Dossier presented by the 2 parents
You must send the request for a name change to the Minister of Justice.
It is not mandatory to have a lawyer.
Who shall I contact
The file shall include the following documents:
- Slip summarizing all attachments to the folder. It shows your name, first names, address, phone number, and possibly your e-mail
- Full copy of the birth certificate of a minor less than 3 months old
- Copy of a document proving that the child has French nationality: national identity card, passport, certificate of french nationalitydeclaration of acquisition of French nationality or amplification of the naturalization decree
- If the minor is over 13 years old, his written and signed agreement + copy of an identity document signed by him (identity card, passport)
- Printing the pdf file of the extract from the authenticated Electronic Official Journal
- Full and original page(s) of the support authorized to publish a legal ad (Shal) or proof of publication of the advertisement after its publication.
If the publication is dematerialized, you must provide proof of publication of the ad after its publication, mentioning an internet link or flash code to authenticate the publication.
- Full copy of the birth certificate of each parent less than 3 months old,
Please note
If you wish to change your child's surname despite the opposition of the other parent with whom you practice together parental authority, you can apply to the guardianship judge. You can use the form no. 5874 to make the request. The form gives access to an explanatory note of the approach.
File submitted by a single parent (parental authority of 2 parents)
You must send the request for a name change to the Minister of Justice.
It is not mandatory to have a lawyer.
Who shall I contact
The file shall include the following documents:
- Slip summarizing all attachments to the folder. It shows your name, first names, address, phone number, and possibly your e-mail
- Full copy of the birth certificate of a minor less than 3 months old
- Copy of a document proving that the child has French nationality: national identity card, passport, certificate of french nationalitydeclaration of acquisition of French nationality or amplification of the naturalization decree
- If the minor is over 13 years old, his written and signed agreement + copy of an identity document signed by him (identity card, passport)
- Printing the pdf file of the extract from the authenticated Electronic Official Journal
- Full and original page(s) of the support authorized to publish a legal ad (Shal) or proof of publication of the advertisement after its publication.
If the publication is dematerialized, you must provide proof of publication of the ad after its publication, mentioning an internet link or flash code to authenticate the publication.
- Full copy of each parent's birth certificate less than 3 months old
- Agreement on free paper of the second parent regarding the change of name of the child. Or, in case of disagreement, authorization of the guardianship judge.
Please note
If you wish to change your child's surname despite the opposition of the other parent with whom you practice together parental authority, you can apply to the guardianship judge. You can use the form no. 5874 to make the request. The form gives access to an explanatory note of the approach.
File submitted by a single parent (who exercises sole parental authority)
You must send the request for a name change to the Minister of Justice.
It is not mandatory to have a lawyer.
Who shall I contact
The file shall include the following documents:
- Slip summarizing all attachments to the folder. It shows your name, first names, address, phone number, and possibly your e-mail
- Full copy of the birth certificate of a minor less than 3 months old
- Copy of a document proving that the child has French nationality: national identity card, passport, certificate of french nationalitydeclaration of acquisition of French nationality or amplification of the naturalization decree
- If the minor is over 13 years old, his written and signed agreement + copy of an identity document signed by him (identity card, passport)
- Printing the pdf file of the extract from the authenticated Electronic Official Journal
- Full and original page(s) of the support authorized to publish a legal ad (Shal) or proof of publication of the advertisement after its publication.
If the publication is dematerialized, you must provide proof of publication of the ad after its publication, mentioning an internet link or flash code to authenticate the publication.
- Full copy of the parent's birth certificate less than 3 months old
- If the other parent has died, a full copy of the death certificate
- If the exercise of parental authority is subject to a court decision: copy of the judgment conferring exclusive exercise of parental authority on the applicant parent or withdrawing parental authority from the other parent.
File submitted by the minor's guardian
You must send the request for a name change to the Minister of Justice.
It is not mandatory to have a lawyer.
Who shall I contact
The file shall include the following documents:
- Slip summarizing all attachments to the folder. It shows your name, first names, address, phone number, and possibly your e-mail
- Full copy of the birth certificate of a minor less than 3 months old
- Copy of a document proving that the child has French nationality: national identity card, passport, certificate of french nationalitydeclaration of acquisition of French nationality or amplification of the naturalization decree
- If the minor is over 13 years old, his written and signed agreement + copy of an identity document signed by him (identity card, passport)
- Printing the pdf file of the extract from the authenticated Electronic Official Journal
- Full and original page(s) of the support authorized to publish a legal ad (Shal) or proof of publication of the advertisement after its publication.
If the publication is dematerialized, you must provide proof of publication of the ad after its publication, mentioning an internet link or flash code to authenticate the publication.
- Full copy of the birth certificate a guardian less than 3 months old
- Authorization of family council.
Instruction
The Department of Justice's Seal Service is reviewing your file.
This service may ask the public prosecutor to conduct an investigation. It may also request the opinion of the Council of State in case of difficulty.
FYI
If you wish to waive your request, you must do so in writing in the 2 months following the submission of your file.
Deadline
The time limit for obtaining a decision is variable depending on the complexity of the request. Count several months, sometimes several years.
To find out how your case is progressing, you can contact the Department of Justice's Civil Affairs and Seal Directorate.
Who shall I contact
A decree concerning your name change is published in the Official Journal of the French Republic (JORF).
A copy (or amplification) of the decree is addressed to you in RAR: titleContent.
If your request is refused, the refusal must be reasoned. It is you notified by registered letter with AR: titleContent.
You can challenge the refusal decision before the administrative court of Paris in the 2 months from its notification. The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
Who shall I contact
Before challenging the refusal decision before the Administrative Court of Paris, you can make a ex gratia to the Minister of Justice. However, you must submit new evidence for your appeal to be considered.
You must make the appeal graciously in the 2 months following the notification of the refusal decision. If you make an ex gratia appeal, the appeal to the Administrative Court is interrupted.
Example :
The Department of Justice will notified a refusal on April 4, 2025 and you file an appeal on May 26, 2025. Your application for an ex gratia is dismissed on 24 June 2025. You can appeal to the administrative judge until midnight on August 25, 2025. If the deadline expires on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or non-working day, the deadline shall be extended until 1er business day next.
One third party may object to your name change if it gives specific reasons. For example, to protect your own surname.
The third party can send a letter to the Ministry of Justice. He has to send his mail after the publication in the Official Journal of the French Republic (JORF) of your prior request, but before the publication in the JORF of the decree concerning your name change.
Who shall I contact
If the decree relating to your name change has been published in the JORF, the third party must initiate proceedings before the Council of State within 2 months of its publication in the JORF.
Who shall I contact
To ensure that no third party has objected to your name change, you can contact the Council of State.
The Council of State issues you one of the following documents:
- Certificate of non-opposition, if no one objected to your name change
- Copy of the decision refusing the opposition if the Council of State has refused the opposition of a third party to your name change.
If the Council of State cancels the decree relating to your name change, you cannot renew your application unless you have new exceptional elements.
At your request, your civil status records affected by your name change are updated.
Application File
You must prepare the following documents:
- Cerfa form n°17585 application form, completed and signed
- Amplification the decree authorizing your change of last name
- Full copy, in original, of the civil status documents whose amendment is requested. These documents are not mandatory but it is advisable to attach them.
- Certificate of non-opposition or a copy of the decision refusing the opposition. Contact the Council of State to obtain these documents (Secretariat of the Litigation Section). You can use the form cerfa n°12820 to apply for the certificate of non-opposition.
Who shall I contact
Sending the request
The approach varies according to your place of birth, in France or abroad.
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You were born in France
The application file must be submitted or sent to the town hall of your place of birth.
You were born abroad
The application file must be sent by mail to the central civil registration service (scec).
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a French person abroad
Only by mail to the following address:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate via a online service.
For further information, you can:
Consult the site diplomatie.gouv.fr
Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4pm.
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Use the following online form: https://etat-civil.diplomatie.gouv.fr/rece-informationusager-ui/
Once the civil status documents concerned by your name change have been updated, you must request the renewal of your identity card and/or your passport.
You must do the step in a 3 months delay from the update of your birth certificate.
The renewal of your identity card and/or your passport is mandatory even if your identity documents are still valid.
This approach is free of charge if you provide the national identity card and/or passport you are requesting to be renewed.
After renewing your identity card and/or passport, you must also apply for the renewal of your driver's license and your vital card.
Don't forget to communicate your name change to administrations and bodies concerned by your name change.
Please note
Using an identity document that does not correspond to your marital status is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to €50,000.
Conditions for changing name (Articles 61 to 61-4)
Document template
Document template
FAQ
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