The change of first name with the civil status service

The law of modernization of the justice of November 18, 2016 allows to file a request for change of name in front of the registrar. This request must be made by the person concerned by this change of first name,

• either at the town hall of the applicant's place of residence
• either at the town hall of his place of birth.

The applicant must justify a legitimate interest in seeking this change of name. You can not ask to change your name for purely personal reasons or whimsical.

If the registrar agrees to this request, the decision of change of first name will be registered directly in the register of civil status. This assessment will be made according to the particular circumstances of each application.

People who have obtained a change of first name must imperatively update their administrative situation related to this change of identity.

Documents required:

The applicant will have to get closer to the population service in order to withdraw a form corresponding to his situation.

He will then have to file with the registrar:

• the completed form,
• the birth certificate of the person concerned
• an ID of the interested party
• proof of recent residence
• the elements relative to the legitimate interest of the request: documents relating to the childhood or the schooling, to the professional life, personal or family life, administrative life, (contracts, attestations, certificates, testimonies ...)
• all acts of the Civil Register that will be affected by this change of first name. (marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, spouse or PACS partner), copy of the family record book.
• In the event of a request for change of first name of a minor, this request must be submitted by his legal representative (s). If the minor is over 13 years old he will also have to consent to it.

The registrar will examine the request for change of first name and inform the applicant of his decision.

The registrar will immediately seize the Public Prosecutor if he considers that the request is not of legitimate interest.