Our name change services provide expert legal assistance in legally changing your first name, nickname, or surname in the Philippines. We guide you through the appropriate administrative or judicial processes to ensure that the change is properly documented, compliant with the law, and fully recognized in official records.
Administrative and Judicial Name Changes
As with birth certificate corrections, name changes may be effected through administrative or judicial procedures.
Administrative Change of Name
Under R.A. 9048 (Clerical Error Law), as amended by R.A. 10172, first names and nicknames may be changed administratively through the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) if they are ridiculous, difficult to use, habitually replaced by a commonly used name, or likely to cause confusion.
Once a petition is approved by the LCRO and affirmed by the Civil Registrar General (CRG), the change is reflected as a marginal annotation on the petitioner’s birth certificate. The original entry remains intact and is never erased or altered, in accordance with Supreme Court rulings.
Judicial Change of Name
A judicial change of name, governed by Rule 103 of the Rules of Court, requires filing a petition before the court and is intended for substantial changes affecting a person’s legal identity. Common grounds include names that are embarrassing, dishonorable, difficult to pronounce or write, result from legitimation, adopted to remove signs of foreign parentage, or reflect Filipino names habitually used in good faith.
The judicial process begins with a lawyer filing the petition and supporting documents with the Regional Trial Court (RTC), after which the court orders its publication and conducts hearings to evaluate the request. If the petition is granted, the court issues an order authorizing the correction in the civil registry.
What Duran & Duran-Schulze Law Does
Duran & Duran-Schulze Law provides expert legal assistance for change of name petitions in the Philippines. We manage the preparation and filing of all required documents and ensure that petitions are properly supported, compliant with the law, and efficiently processed.
Our Change of Name Services
Our comprehensive legal and technical assistance in name changes covers:
Administrative Name Change Assistance
We assist in filing petitions for administrative changes of first names or nicknames with the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Judicial Name Change Assistance
For substantial or contested name changes, we handle judicial petitions filed before the appropriate Regional Trial Court (RTC). Our services include preparing and filing the verified petition, representing during hearings, and securing a court order that directs the amendment of the civil registry document.
How to Get Started
For inquiries on requirements, processes, and fees, contact Duran & Duran-Schulze Law at (+632) 8478 5826, (+63) 917 194 0482, or info@duranschulze.com, or simply complete the form on this page. Our office is located at 1210 High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower 2, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Need to Consult a Lawyer?
You can book an online or in-person consultation with Atty. Wendy. Choose a 30-minute or 1-hour session, fill out the form with your information and preferred schedule, pay the fee via PayPal, and meet with the attorney at the scheduled time.
Atty. Mary Wendy A. Duran
Founding Senior Partner [Read Profile]
Family Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Special Proceedings, and Property law
Change of Name in the Philippines FAQs
For your reference and guidance, here are some frequently asked questions about name changes in the Philippines:
A change of name involves legally altering the first name, nickname, middle name, or surname in the civil registry due to clerical issues or substantial changes that affect legal identity through either administrative or judicial means.
The individual whose name is to be changed may file the petition. In some cases, parents and legal guardians may file on behalf of minors, subject to court rules.
No. In the Philippines, women typically adopt their husband’s surname upon marriage. While no administrative or judicial petition is required, registrations with government and statutory agencies must be updated to reflect the change in the official documents.
Typically, no. Both administrative and judicial name changes are reflected as marginal annotations or as additional amendment sheets. The original entries remain intact to preserve the integrity of civil registry documents.
Yes. Administrative petitions may be filed at the nearest Philippine Consulate if your birth was registered in the Philippines or at a Philippine Consulate. Judicial petitions generally require representation in the Regional Trial Court.
Administrative name changes typically take weeks or months, depending on processing at the LCRO and PSA. Judicial name changes may take longer due to court proceedings and the publication requirements.
Legal assistance is highly recommended, especially for judicial petitions or complex cases, to ensure compliance with procedural and evidentiary requirements and also, to avoid delays or denial.
