French Civil Code

Any person may apply to the civil registrar to change their forename. The application is submitted to the civil registrar of the place of residence or the place where the birth certificate was drawn up. In the case of a minor, the application is submitted by the minor’s legal representative. The addition, deletion or change in the order of forenames may also be requested. If the child is over the…

Any person who can demonstrate a legitimate interest may apply to change his or her name. The purpose of the application to change the name may be to prevent the extinction of the name borne by an ascendant or collateral relative of the applicant up to the fourth degree. The change of name is authorised by decree.

Any interested party may lodge an objection with the Conseil d’Etat to the decree changing the name within two months of its publication in the Journal officiel. A decree changing the name takes effect, if no objection has been lodged, on expiry of the period during which the objection is admissible or, if no objection has been lodged, after rejection of the objection.

The change of name extends automatically to the beneficiary’s children when they are under thirteen.

Any change of name of a child over the age of thirteen requires his or her personal consent where the change does not result from the establishment or modification of a parent-subsidiary relationship. The establishment or modification of a parent-subsidiary relationship does not, however, entail a change of surname for children of full age unless they give their consent.

Any person of full age may apply to the civil registrar of his or her place of residence or custodian of his or her birth certificate for a change of name to one of the names provided for in the first and last paragraphs of article 311-21. Without prejudice to article 61, this choice may only be made once. Any person who provides proof of a name entered in the…