Overview
A person residing in Alberta may have their name legally changed, under certain conditions.
Name restrictions
There are restrictions respecting personal names when choosing, altering or correcting a legal name on Vital Statistics certificates and documents.
Name changes that do not require a legal change of name
Not all changes to a name require a legal change of name through the government.
Married last name
In Alberta, you do not have to legally change your name after getting married. You may assume a married last name.
Correcting information
An Alberta birth record may be corrected with an amendment rather than a legal change of name. If the birth did not happen in Alberta, you must request the amendment from the jurisdiction in which the birth occurred.
Change in parents
If you are amending the parentage on your child's Alberta birth record, you can change your child’s name at the same time if the child is younger than 18 years old.
Contact Vital Statistics for more information about amending parentage as these issues can be complex.
Reclaiming Indigenous names
Residential school survivors and persons who were part of the Sixties Scoop may reclaim their Indigenous name at no cost.
Descendants such as children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and spouses/partners of residential school and Sixties Scoop survivors are also eligible for a free legal change of name when reclaiming their Indigenous name.
Applicants must be Alberta residents.
To apply for a no-cost Legal Change of Name:
- Request a Legal Change of Name (LCN) directly through the Vital Statistics office at [email protected].
- do not apply through a registry agent
- Complete a Fee Waiver Application form and Legal Change of Name Application form (Vital Statistics will give you these forms).
- Vital Statistics will process your Legal Change of Name Application and issue a Legal Change of Name certificate.
- Using the Legal Change of Name certificate received from Vital Statistics and a completed Fee Waiver Application form, you may apply to amend any Alberta Vital Statistics record that reflects your name.
Alberta certificates, like birth certificates, surrendered with an amendment request will be cancelled and replaced with the Indigenous name free of charge.
Contact Vital Statistics directly if you have any questions about reclaiming an Indigenous name.
Eligibility
An applicant may apply to legally change:
- their own name
- the name of their spouse/partner with their consent
- the name of their child/ward with the consent of the child when they are 12 to 17 years of age
- the name of a represented adult when the applicant is their guardian
As an applicant, you must be an Alberta resident.
- you must remain a resident of Alberta throughout the change of name process
- you are not an Alberta resident if you are in Alberta temporarily or maintain your regular residence outside of Alberta
An applicant must be at least 18 years old. If you are younger than 18 years old, you can be the applicant if you are also (one of the following):
- legally married
- widowed
- divorced
- living in an adult interdependent relationship (term carries legal meanings similar to common law, but not the same)
- the parent of a child
- the guardian of a child
You must provide your acceptable ID.
Ineligible applicants
A person cannot change their name if they, as an adult:
- have ever been designated a dangerous offender (see section 753 of the Criminal Code of Canada)
- have ever been designated a long-term offender (see 753.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada)
- are currently listed on the Alberta High Risk Offender Registry
- have ever been convicted of an offence under section 490.011(1)(a), (c), (c.1), (d), (d.1) and (e) of the Criminal Code of Canada under the “designated offence” definition
Cost
The cost to legally change a name varies among registry agents. A registry agent’s fee covers all the name changes included on one application form and the $120 government fee.
A legal change of name may require a certified criminal record check or fingerprint report. Contact the applicable agency to confirm the cost as fees vary and are not included in a registry agent’s fee.
How to apply
Step 1. Read the applicable Information Guide
Step 2. Complete the applicable online Legal Change of Name Application form
If you do not have internet access, you may request a paper Legal Change of Name Application form from Vital Statistics. The email address is: [email protected].
Step 3. Get a Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC) document
Persons 18 years old or older must submit a CCRC.
- A CCRC from a third-party provider will be rejected.
A CCRC must be submitted to a registry agent with the application within 30 days of the date noted in the body of the CCRC document. A CCRC expires after 30 days and a new one must be purchased.
Take this letter of instruction with you when you go to get your CCRC. This will help to ensure you get the right document: Letter of Instruction for RCMP and Accredited Fingerprinting Agencies.
A CCRC may be obtained from:
- an RCMP detachment
- a private fingerprinting company accredited by the RCMP
- an applicant's local police service
Contact them to find out the cost and how long it takes.
Step 4. Get a fingerprint document
Persons 12 years old to 17 years old must submit a fingerprint document. When a person is 18 years old or older, fingerprints are included in a certified criminal record check document.
Only electronic fingerprints are accepted.
A confirmation letter will be mailed to you from the RCMP in Ottawa.
The confirmation letter must be submitted with your application.
Fingerprints may be obtained from:
- an RCMP detachment
- a private fingerprinting company accredited by the RCMP
- an applicant's local police service
Contact them to find out the cost and how long it will take.
Step 5. Find any existing birth certificates
Each person, having their name legally changed, must surrender all their Canadian birth certificates with their Legal Change of Name Application.
Surrendered Alberta birth certificates will be replaced free of charge with new Alberta birth certificates reflecting the new name.
Step 6. Gather all the supporting documents
This always includes:
- acceptable ID for the applicant
- proof of name document for each person whose name is being changed
- fingerprint document or certified criminal record check, for each person whose name is being changed (depending on their age). If the person is younger than 12 years old, neither document is required for them.
An application may also include:
- proof of marital status if you’re changing the name of a spouse/partner
- proof of relationship if you’re changing the name of a child
- guardianship order if you’re changing the name of a dependant
A registry agent will confirm the supporting documents you will need. Note, photocopies and faxes are not accepted for some documents.
Step 7. Submit the application form
Take the completed Legal Change of Name Application form and all the supporting documents to a registry agent.
The registry agent will review all the documents for accuracy and send them to Vital Statistics for processing.
After you apply
Legal Change of Name certificates
Once your Legal Change of Name Application has been approved and processed, a Legal Change of Name Certificate with the new name is produced, as part of the legal change of name, for each person whose name has been changed. Certificates are mailed to you by regular mail.
Note: If you have already legally changed the name and just want to get another "legal change of name certificate", see Order a change of name certificate.
Birth certificates
If you surrendered Alberta birth certificates, they will be replaced free of charge showing the new name.
If you did not surrender any Alberta birth certificates, you may purchase new ones from a registry agent.
If you were born outside of Alberta, you must contact the Vital Statistics office in the jurisdiction in which you were born for new birth certificates. Alberta Vital Statistics does not return certificates to any jurisdiction.
Marriage certificates
If you want to amend your marriage record with the new legal name:
- and your marriage took place in Alberta, contact Alberta Vital Statistics for an amendment
- and your marriage took place outside Alberta, contact the Vital Statistics office in the jurisdiction in which you were married for their processes
Contact
Connect with the Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction 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
Email: [email protected]
Mail:
Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 2023
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W7
Courier:
Vital Statistics
Document Reception
John E. Brownlee Building
10365 97 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5C5