Since the Vignal law of March 2, 2022, which considerably simplified this procedure with a declaration to the civil registry, hundreds of thousands of French people have been able to benefit from this process, which can only be done once.
It is an administrative process that changes the lives of many French people, and which can only be carried out once in a lifetime. Since the entry into force of the Vignal law in March 2022, and until December 2023, 144,100 people have already benefited from this simplified procedure, i.e. three times more than during the previous period, specifies a new INSEE study. This law has in fact enabled adults to greatly facilitate the procedure for changing their surname (or birth name), by making a simple declaration to the civil registry.
For the past two years, it has been possible to replace your father’s name with your mother’s name, and vice versa, or to add the name of the second parent to the first name in the order of your choice. If a person already has the names of both parents, they can also delete one. This new law has thus multiplied by more than three the changes of surname, between August 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023, with 144,100 people born in France, compared to 44,000 people who took this step in the previous period between March 1 2021 and July 31, 2022. Two out of three times, the change of name consists of the substitution of one name by another. The addition of a second name attached to the initial name comes next, but is three times less common.
This simplified procedure, free and validated in approximately one month, has especially changed the lives of many French people, starting with single, divorced mothers, whose children bear the father’s name and who are forced to justify their maternity at each administrative procedure. by presenting their family record book. According to INSEE, the change of name most often concerns young people under the age of 30, and it would involve replacing the father’s name with that of the mother. Same case when it comes to adding a second name attached to the first: “it is likely that it is more often that of the mother”, specifies the Institute.
Please note: this simplified procedure (different from the usual name you have when you get married or from a French name) can only be done once during your life. Additionally, if your child is under 13, the other parent must be informed of your name change. Those over 13 must give consent for their surname to be changed and if the child does not wish this, then they can keep their surname.
Remember that in other situations, it is possible to go through a procedure by decree for legitimate reasons (a longer and costly process), particularly when the family name is difficult to bear (a derogatory name or a sound considered ridiculous) or when the name has been made famous in the media and carries a bad reputation for example.
Source: Public service, Law of March 2, 2022 relating to the choice of the name resulting from filiation