Publication of a notice in civil status matters

The publication of notices is a legal obligation that is used to publicly announce a person’s intention to submit an application for a change of name or, if applicable, the name of their child; a person’s intention to tardily declare their filiation regarding their child and, where applicable, to have the child’s surname changed or a person’s intention to marry or enter into a civil union. The publication of a notice enables people to communicate their comments with respect to the application, or to oppose it, under certain conditions, if they have valid reasons to do so.

Thus, unless an exemption/dispensation has been granted, the law provides that a notice must be published :

• when an application for a change of name is submitted to the Directeur de l’état civil.
• prior to the solemnization of a marriage or civil union.

The publication of a notice is required in the case of a tardy declaration of filiation.

In addition, when the Directeur de l’état civil authorizes a change of name, the Directeur publishes a notice of change of name on its website. The same applies when the court reviews a decision rendered by the Directeur de l’état civil and authorizes a change of name.

Other useful links

• Publication of a notice of application for a change of name
• Publication of a notice of change of name
• Publication of a notice of tardy declaration of filiation
• Publication of a notice of marriage or civil union
• Publication of a notice to substitute the usual given name by another given name on the act of birth

Reviewed: 2023-06-08