3. Give notice to your partner

Your partner does not have to agree to your legal name change. But you may need to prove to the Government of Ontario that you notified your partner about your application to change your legal name. This is called giving Notice.

You only need to give Notice to your partner if:

• you're married, or
• you've signed a Joint Declaration of Conjugal Relationship and you have not officially cancelled it.

If you're in a common-law relationship but have not signed a Joint Declaration of Conjugal Relationship, you do not have to notify your partner.

How to give Notice

If you must give Notice, complete the top part of the Notice form. This is Form 6: Change of Name Act in Part 2 of the application package. Your partner must fill in the bottom portion of the Notice form and return it to you. You must then include this completed form in your application.

If you do not live with your partner, send them the Notice form by registered mail to the last address they lived at. You receive a receipt when you send anything by registered mail. Include the receipt with your application.

If your partner does not sign the Notice form, the registered mail receipt shows that you gave Notice.

You must give Notice to your partner at least 30 days before you submit your application.

If you live with your partner and they sign the Notice form, you do not need to mail it to them. Just include the signed form.