Change of name and surname

To be authorized, the following must be proven:

• That the person affected by the change uses and is known by the surname requested. That use and knowledge cannot be intentionally created to achieve change.
• That the new surnames legitimately belong to the interested party.
• That the surnames that result from the change do not belong to a single line, but that they are one of the paternal and the other of the maternal.

The Spanish system of imposition of surnames assumes that, if the affiliation is determined by both lines, the parents will agree on the order of transmission of their respective first surname before the registration.

In case of disagreement or when the surnames have not been stated in the registration application, the Civil Registry Officer will require the parents, or those who hold the legal representation of the minor, so that within a maximum period of three days they communicate the order. of surnames. Once said period has elapsed without express communication, the Manager will agree on the order of the surnames in accordance with the best interest of the minor.

It is possible to change the proper name:

• When requested by the interested party for habitually using a name other than the one on the birth registration or for another just cause.
• When the name had been imposed in violation of the established rules.
• When it comes to the translation of a foreign name.
• When it comes to translation or graphic or phonetic adaptation to Spanish languages.
• When the registry mention of sex is rectified.

It should be taken into account:

• No more than two simple names or one compound name can be imposed. In this case, the two names will be joined by means of a hyphen.
• The name cannot objectively harm the person. For this reason, those that are dishonorable, humiliating, demeaning, etc., are excluded by themselves or in combination with the surnames.
• Those that make the identification confusing (for example, a last name converted into a name) or mislead them as a whole about sex are not allowed.
• You cannot attribute to a brother the name of another living brother.

• Written request stating the reason for the change addressed to the Minister of Justice or General Director of Registries and Notaries.
• Literal certification of the birth registration of the person affected by the change.
• Evidence (documentary, public or private and/or testimonial), to prove in each case, the use and knowledge, the legitimacy and line from which the surnames come or any other circumstance on which the request is based. To prove the legitimacy of the surname, certifications of the parents' birth registrations and, if necessary, previous ascendants must be provided. In the absence of these, if possible, their baptismal certificates.
• In the case of adaptation of surnames to other Spanish languages, certificates from the Royal Academies of the corresponding official languages.

Request to change the order of the newborn's last names:

• Request addressed to the corresponding Judge in Charge of the Civil Registry, providing certification of the marriage of the parents and, if it does not exist, their birth certificate.
• Declaration of the mutual agreement of the parents on the change in the order of the child's surnames.

Application for inversion of surnames made by the person of legal age:

• If the change of order is requested by the person of legal age, they must provide, along with the request, the birth registration certificate.

• Request addressed, depending on the case, to the Civil Registry or the Minister of Justice or General Director of Registries and Notaries. It should be directed to the Civil Registry when it comes to changing the registered name for the one that is usually used.
• Literal certification of the birth registration of the person affected by the change.
• Documentary evidence proving, where appropriate, the habitual use of the proposed name or any other circumstance on which the request is based.
• In general, since there are several cases, it is advisable to provide baptismal certificates, propose witnesses, as well as the corresponding certificates from the Royal Academies of the respective official Spanish languages ​​for the case of substitution of the proper name by its onomastic equivalent in said languages. languages.