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Use name of a major: using parents' names

Verified 01 July 2022 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

Additional cases ?

For a minor child

You're an adult, your last name is your father's, and you wonder if you can also carry your mother's name? Any person may be given thename of the parent who was not given to the parent at birth. We tell you which usage name you can choose and how to include this name on your official documents.

Everyone has family name.

The last name on the birth certificate.

This could include the name of the father, or the mother, or the name of your father and mother together.

However, it is possible to use in everyday life another name called usage name.

The usage name may throughout life.

Usage name does not replace last name which remains the only name mentioned on civil status acts.

You can use the following usage name:

  • A double name consisting of your name and the name of the parent that was not transmitted to you at birth, within the limit of a family name, in case of a double name, for each of the parents. The order of names can be chosen freely.
  • The name of the parent that was not passed to you at birth.

This parent must be on your birth certificate.

You can choose a usage name at any age.

The chosen usage name is final.

In case of marriage, you can renounce or change your usage name to your spouse's, but you cannot accumulate these 2 usage types.

Example :

your last name is: BELIER

Your father's name: BELIER

Your mother's name: DURAND

You can choose a usage name: DURAND, BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER

Example :

your last name is: BELIER

Your father's name: BELIER GORCE

Your mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

You can choose a usage name: BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER, BELIER DUPONT, DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND GORCE, GORCE DUPONT, DUPONT GORCE, BELIER GORCE, DURAND DUPONT, GORCE, DURAND DUPONT

Example :

your last name is: BELIER DURAND

Your father's name: BELIER

Your mother's name: DURAND

You can choose a usage name: DURAND BELIER, BELIER, DURAND

Example :

your last name is: BELIER DURAND

Your father's name: BELIER GORCE

Your mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

You can choose a usage name: DURAND BELIER, BELIER DUPONT, DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND, DURAND GORCE, GORCE DUPONT, DUPONT GORCE, BELIER GORCE, DURAND DUPONT, BELIER, GORCE, DURAND, DUPONT

Example :

your last name is: BELIER-GORCE

Your father's name: BELIER-GORCE

Your mother's name: DURAND-DUPONT

You can choose a usage name: BELIER-GORCE DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT BELIER-GORCE, DURAND-DUPONT

Example :

your last name is: BELIER GORCE

Your father's name: BELIER-GORCE

Your mother's name: DURAND-DUPONT

You can choose a usage name: BELIER DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT GORCE, DURAND-DUPONT, BELIER, GORCE

FYI  

both parents can choose from the birth of the child that it bears their two names. In this case, this name is the child's surname.

First use name on ID

To include a usage name after family name on identity card or passport, you must:

These documents are to be attached to the application file for ID and to be provided at the same window.

To Renew Identity Document

Your usage name has not changed

No new usage name documents should be provided.

You no longer want to use a usage name

Just leave the line blank

second

of form or pre-application of identity papers

You want to use a different usage name

You must provide new supporting documents such as a full copy of the marriage certificate if you wish to use the name of your spouse.

These documents should be included in the application for identity documents.

Use name on other official documents

The chosen usage name can be used in all acts of private, family, social or professional life.

For example, to apply for a social benefit, the form may indicate a box

usage name

.

Upon request, the administration must use the name in the letters it sends you.

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