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Legal Change of Name



Are you planning to legally change your name?



As of August 1, 2014 the process has significantly changed.


FAQs

  1. What changed?
  2. When did the changes take effect?
  3. Why did these changes take place?
  4. What do these changes mean?
  5. What are authorized fingerprinting agencies?
  6. What happens to the fingerprints?
  7. Does Vital Statistics Branch get criminal records?
  8. How does the new change of name process work?
  9. How much does it cost for a legal change of name?
  10. What are Fingerprinting Agency fees?
  11. How long does it take to process a legal change of name?
  12. Can I use an old application form?
  13. Where can I obtain an application form?

What's changed?

The Manitoba Legislature passed legislation to amend The Change of Name Act and the process used to legally change a person's name. The revised Act requires adult applicants to have their fingerprints taken at an authorized Manitoba fingerprinting agency before the legal change of name process is completed.

An adult is anyone:
  • Older than 18 or


  • Younger than 18 and married/in a common-law relationship or a parent with custody of a child.



When did the changes take effect?
The changes took effect August 1, 2014 when The Change of Name Act was proclaimed.



Why did these changes take place?

Manitoba Vital Statistics Branch has a key role in identity management. Identity and security are very big concerns for individuals and private organizations. Including fingerprinting increases protection for vulnerable persons by ensuring people with criminal records do not use a name change to avoid criminal record checks that identify their records.



What do these changes mean?

The new fingerprinting requirement means that adults seeking to legally change their name will have to get fingerprinted at an authorized fingerprinting agency.



What are authorized fingerprinting agencies?

  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Division D Detachments with Livescan Information about RCMP Division D Detachments with Livescan is available on the web at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mb/cont/index-eng.htm or by calling Division D headquarters at 204-983-5420.


  • Winnipeg Police Service (Headquarters location only, 245 Smith Street) Information about Winnipeg Police Service Fingerprints-Identification Section is available by calling 204-986-6218.


  • Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (870 Portage Ave, Winnipeg) or (415-1st St, Brandon) Information about the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires is available on the web at: https://commissionaires.ca/en/manitoba/home or by calling 204-942-5993 (Winnipeg) or 204-560-5216 (Brandon) or 1-877-322-6777.


  • Brandon Police Service (1020 Victoria Avenue, Brandon) Information about Brandon Police Service is available on the web at: http://police.brandon.ca or by calling 204-729-2345.




What happens to fingerprints?

Authorized fingerprinting agencies use Livescan, inkless digital fingerprinting via an optical scanner. The scanned fingerprints and the application details are formatted into a standardized electronic package and emailed, via a secure link, directly to the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Information System (CCRTIS).

CCRTIS conducts a biometric search to see if the person's fingerprints match any in the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Record Information. If there is a match, the person's new name will be added to the entry. If there is no match, the applicant's fingerprints will be destroyed after 90 days.



Does Vital Statistics Branch get criminal records?

No. Vital Statistics Branch only gets confirmation from CCRTIS that the person's fingerprints were received by them and analyzed to determine whether the new name must be added to an existing entry in the National Repository.

Vital Statistics Branch is not advised if an entry is made in the National Repository or not, nor does it receive any criminal history information about the applicant.

Vital Statistics Branch will only process a legal change of name application after it receives confirmation from CCRTIS.

*DO NOT UNDERGO FINGERPRINTING UNTIL YOU ARE ADVISED BY VITAL STATISTICS BRANCH TO DO SO.*




How does the new change of name process work?

The next seven steps will outline the process.

STEP 1 - the applicant will:

Complete the Application for a Legal Change of Name. Attach all required supporting documents and Vital Statistics Branch fees. Supporting documents may include: original birth/marriage/death certificates, immigration documents, divorce certificates, child custody documents, or court orders that apply to the family members who want to change their names.


STEP 2 - the applicant will:

Submit package to Vital Statistics Branch by either:
  • Scheduling an appointment by calling 204 945-3701 or 1-866-949-9296. You must bring the application form, all supporting documents and Vital Statistics Branch legal change of name fee payment with you to your appointment,

    OR

  • Sending the application form, all supporting documents and Vital Statistics Branch legal change of name fee payment to the Vital Statistics Branch by registered mail.

STEP 3 - Vital Statistics Branch will:
  • Review the change of name application, and supporting documents.
  • Once approved for processing, the Branch will either give the applicant the Manitoba Legal Change of Name and Fingerprinting Information Sheet with additional information and instructions on how to complete civil fingerprinting for a legal change of name, or mail it to the applicant. This review will usually take 10 business days, but depends on the volume of applications submitted to the Branch.

STEP 4 - the applicant will:
  • Review the Manitoba Legal Change of Name and Fingerprinting Information Sheet, once received.
  • Contact the authorized fingerprinting agency of choice to discuss the fingerprinting agency's requirements and fees to complete your civil fingerprinting.
  • Arrange an appointment (if offered by the Fingerprinting Agency).

STEP 5 - the applicant will:
  • Bring the Manitoba Legal Change of Name and Fingerprinting Information Sheet to the authorized fingerprinting agency of choice.
  • Pay the fingerprinting agency's fees and undergo civil fingerprinting to support the legal change of name application process.
Applicants must consent to the Third Party Waiver in Livescan to have confirmation sent to the Vital Statistics Branch from CCRTIS that the person's fingerprints were received by CCRTIS and analyzed.

The name provided to the authorized fingerprinting agency must match exactly. If not, Vital Statistics Branch will not be able to process the application. The applicant will have to start a new application and undergo fingerprinting again. Fingerprinting fees to the authorized agency are payable each time the applicant undergoes fingerprinting.


STEP 6 - CCRTIS will:
  • Conduct a biometric search to determine whether the person's fingerprints match an entry in the National Repository of Criminal Record Information maintained by the RCMP (National Repository). If there is a match, the RCMP will add the person's new name to the entry in the National Repository. If there is no match, the RCMP will destroy the applicant's fingerprints after 90 days.
  • Send the confirmation that the person's fingerprints were received by CCRTIS and analyzed to Vital Statistics Branch.
Vital Statistics Branch does not receive any confirmation of an entry, or lack of entry, in the National Repository, or any other criminal history information about the applicant.

If the Vital Statistics Branch does not receive confirmation directly from CCRTIS, the Branch will not process the legal change of name application and applicants will have to undergo fingerprinting again. Fingerprinting fees to the authorized fingerprinting agency are payable each time the applicant undergoes fingerprinting.


STEP 7 - Vital Statistics Branch will:
  • Process the legal change of name application and mail the certificate of change of name to the applicant within ten business days of receiving confirmation from CCRTIS that the person's fingerprints were received and analyzed.
Note: Processing times vary depending on the volume of applications received.



How much does it cost for a legal change of name?

Vital Statistics Branch fees:

Fee: includes Branch fee of $100 + Manitoba Gazette fee of $20.07 $120.07 ea
Options:
Additional family member(s): a separate application form must be completed for each additional person whose name is being changed. All applications must be received at the same time to qualify for the discounted price.
$70.07 ea
Certificate of Birth* (if event occurred in MB):
An Application for a Manitoba Birth Document but be submitted along with this form.
$30.00 ea
Marriage Certificate* (if event occurred in MB):
An Application for a Manitoba Marriage Document must be submitted along with this form.
$30.00 ea

*Persons born or married outside of Manitoba must contact the jurisdiction in which the event took place for the requirements to obtain a new birth or marriage certificate showing the new name.



What are Fingerprinting Agency fees?

Vital Statistics Branch does not set the fingerprinting service fees. The applicant is responsible for making this payment directly to the authorized fingerprinting agency taking his/her prints. Fees will vary. Contact the authorized fingerprinting agency of choice to confirm the current legal change of name fingerprinting fees. The fingerprinting agency will also collect a $25 fee on behalf of CCRTIS. Again the applicant should confirm with the agency whether this fee is included in the fingerprinting service fees or is charged separately.



How long does it take to process a legal change of name?

When there are no complications, and the change of name application has been completed correctly, and all required supporting documents (such as fingerprints, birth certificates, child custody, etc.) have been submitted, Vital Statistics Branch can usually process the application within ten business days of receiving confirmation from CCRTIS that the person's fingerprints were received and analyzed. However, processing times vary depending on the volume of applications submitted.



Can I use an old application form?

A new application form has been developed for this process. If an old application form is submitted it will be rejected and sent back to the applicant with the new application form.



Where can I obtain an application form?

Adult Application Form

Child Application Form

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