Overview
All certificates are certified extracts of the original legal change of name registration.
Altering and/or laminating Vital Statistics documents makes them invalid.
Types of documents issued
There is only one kind of change of name document you can order:
- Legal Change of Name Certificate
Legal Change of Name Certificate
This legal change of name certificate includes:
- full name of the person before the legal change of name was processed
- full name of the person after the legal change of name was processed
- registration number
- registration date
- date issued
Sample: Legal Change of Name Certificate (PDF, 165 KB)
Eligibility
The following eligibility requirements apply to legal change of name certificates:
Applicants for legal change of name certificates
The following can order a legal change of name certificate:
- the person (whose name was changed) when 12 years old or older
- the person (whose name was changed) when younger than 12 years old with the consent of their parent or guardian
- complete the Consent for Minor Younger than 12 to Apply for Own Birth Certificate or Legal Change of Name Certificate (PDF, 150 KB) as part of your application
- ensure the consent form is signed by a parent or guardian
- the consent form (with an original signature) must be attached to the application form
- if the consent is provided by a guardian, a copy of the guardianship order is required
- the parent of the person in (2) as established by a Registration of Birth document or parentage order
- the applicant must be named in the parentage order, when applicable
- a copy of the parentage order must be attached to the application, when applicable
- a guardian or trustee for a person in (1)/(2) or (3)
- the applicant must be named in the guardianship order or trusteeship document
- a copy of the legal document must be attached to the application
- a person with a power of attorney for the person in (1)/(2) or (3)
- the applicant must be named in the power of attorney document
- a copy of the legal document must be attached to the application
- A person with an order from the court that states the person is eligible
- the order must be issued by a court in Alberta
- the applicant must be authorized to make the application in the court order
- the court order must have been issued within 1 year of the application
- a copy of the order must be attached to the application
- a lawyer for a person in (1) to (6), (8), (9)
- a copy of a valid Law Society card must be attached to the application (this is in addition to the legislated ID requirement)
- a letter from the lawyer advising who their eligible client is must be attached to the application
Applying for a change of name certificate for a deceased person
- the executor, personal representative or administrator for the estate of the deceased person in (1) or (3)
- proof of death must be provided to show the applicant is eligible in this category
- the applicant must be named in the will (or similar document)
- a copy of the will (or similar document) must be attached to the application
- the Public Trustee for the estate of the deceased person in (1) or (3)
- proof of death must be provided to show the applicant is eligible in this category
- the applicant must be named in the Public Trustee documents
- a copy of the Public Trustee documents must be attached to the application
Designated Agent
When an eligible applicant does not have acceptable ID to make the application, a designated agent may be used by a person in (1) to (4).
Next-of-kin
Next-of-kin includes:
- parent
- sibling
- children
- spouse
- adult interdependent partner
Next-of-kin does not include:
- in-laws
- grandparents
- grandchildren
- step relatives
- children of the siblings
Persons who have adopted or who have placed their child for adoption are not “next-of-kin” to biological relations.
Cost
There is a $20 government fee for each change of name certificate ordered.
Registry agents and Registry Connect have additional service fees. Service fees vary among registry agents.
How to apply
Trouble opening or completing PDF forms?
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- Open the PDF from within Adobe Reader. You can now fill and save your form.
Ordering a legal change of name certificate from within Alberta
Step 1. Complete the application form
Application for Legal Change of Name Documents (PDF, 279 KB)
Step 2. Drop off the application from
Take the completed application form and your acceptable ID to a registry agent.
Applications sent directly to Vital Statistics will not be processed.
Ordering a legal change of name certificate from outside Alberta
Step 1. Complete the application form
Application for Legal Change of Name Documents (PDF, 279 KB)
Step 2. Complete the statutory declaration form
Take the completed Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity form (PDF, 40 KB) and your acceptable ID to a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths.
Complete the Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity form in front of a Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths.
Step 3. Mail the application and statutory declaration form
Mail the original completed Application for Legal Change of Name Documents form and the original completed Statutory Declaration for Proof of Identity form to one of the following:
- Registry Connect
- AMA (Alberta Motor Association) - you must be a member
Photocopies and faxes are not accepted.
Applications sent directly to Vital Statistics will not be processed.
After you apply
Once you have submitted your application to Registry Connect or AMA, it will then be submitted to Vital Statistics. Documents are usually processed within 3 business days of Vital Statistics receiving them. If information is missing or there are any discrepancies in information, your application may be delayed.
Delivery options for death documents
- By mail to the address provided on the application form – no extra charge.
- To the registry agent office or AMA (as is applicable) if they offer call box service. Arrangements must be made with them – a service fee may apply.
- To the Government call box in Edmonton or Calgary for emergencies only – no extra charge.
Documents cannot be picked up without acceptable ID. Documents will only be released to the person who applied for them. If someone is picking up your document on your behalf, you must provide them with a written letter of authorization and they must provide their own acceptable ID. If you have used a Designated Agent, they will also require a letter of authorization to pick up your document. There are no exceptions.
Contact
Connect with the Alberta Government Contact Centre:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-7013 (Edmonton and area)
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-4225
For the deaf or hard-of-hearing: TTY: 780-427-9999 (Edmonton and area)
Toll free TTY: 1-800-232-7215 (in Alberta)
Email: vs@gov.ab.ca
Mail:
Vital Statistics
PO Box 2023
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W7