Why advocaatnaamswijziging.nl
Every lawyer in the Netherlands could successfully assist you with a request for a first name change. Dutch law encompasses many complex legal fields such as labor law, family law, and tenancy law; in these cases, it is almost essential for a lawyer to specialize in one or more (sub)areas of law. When requesting a first name change, it is important to be able to demonstrate a significant interest.
advocaatnaamswijziging.nl offers the lowest rate in the Netherlands for a request for a first name change. Your case will be handled with the utmost care and confidentiality. Moreover, in terms of costs, you get the most value for your case: our office has a success rate of 98.9%. This ensures you a positive outcome in your case, at a low rate.
Appointments are recorded in a written assignment confirmation, which includes information about your rights as a client and the options for filing a complaint if you are unexpectedly dissatisfied with the service.
About requests for first name changes
Do you need a lawyer for a request to change your first name?
Yes, an attorney is required for a request to change your first name, as specified in the law. The court can only process a petition if it is signed by a lawyer. In some procedures, a party can proceed without a lawyer’s assistance, but this does not apply to requests for first name changes. This is a deliberate choice by the legislator. For a request to change the surname, this is not the case.
For further information, we refer you to the response of the then Minister of Security and Justice to the article ‘From Isis to Isabella.'”
Under what conditions can I change a first name?
There must be a sufficiently significant interest. If someone wants to change their first name, it is often assumed that there is a significant interest. Occasionally, someone regrets a previous name change and wants to change their first name for a second time. This is also possible, but the request needs to be more extensively substantiated in such cases. A name should not be inappropriate, but fundamentally, a person has a lot of freedom in choosing a new name.
For more information, we refer you to the blog page, where actual court decisions are published. You can search for specific situations using the tag menu.
How long does a first name change procedure take?
The duration varies by court, but generally, the court takes about two months from the submission of the petition to issue a decision. This period can be longer or shorter. There is typically a three-month appeal period following the court’s decision, and the processing at the municipality takes about a maximum of one month. Therefore, you should expect the entire process to take approximately six months. In some cases, an oral hearing may be required, but this is rare.
Do I need to have Dutch nationality for a request to change my first name?
The general principle is that you need Dutch nationality because Dutch law stipulates that a person’s first names are determined according to the law of their nationality. Depending on the law of the state of which the person is a national, it may be possible to change the first name in the Netherlands, but this makes the procedure significantly more complex.
If the person does not yet have Dutch nationality, their name can be determined at the time of the naturalization decision. This can amount to the same as a first name change.
Are costs calculated per letter for a first name change?
No, this is a misconception. The costs depend on the rate charged by the law firm and the amount of court fees. It also depends on whether someone is eligible for pro bono legal assistance.
Does the Netherlands have a mandatory list of names?
No, you are essentially free in choosing a new first name. Nowadays, there is an increasingly greater diversity in first names, so the choice is not often limited.
My name was spelled incorrectly at birth. How can I best address this?
If there is an error in the Dutch birth certificate, you can request the municipal officer to amend it. However, this typically applies to errors in the certificate itself. For instance, it’s not possible to correct a mistake made by the person during the birth registration, such as a wrong translation of the name from the Arabic alphabet. In principle, the name can only be changed through a court procedure for a first name change.
A mistake was made in declaring the names at the birth registration. What now?
The same applies in this case; if it concerns a newborn child, you can choose to contact the municipality directly to correct the error. However, the law is quite strict on this point: names once given are final in principle, so an immediate adjustment is only possible through an official request for a first name change at the court.
From what age can you change a first name?
This is always possible. In the case of minor children, only the legal representative can change the first name: this is the parent with authority or the guardian. An adult child can independently submit a request for a first name change.
I don’t have a foreign birth certificate. Can I still change my first name?
The assumption is that you should have a (legalized) foreign birth certificate. The reason for this is that the civil registrar, through the request for a first name change, creates a Dutch birth certificate, which subsequently states that your first name has been changed by a court decision.
If you cannot obtain a foreign birth certificate, the court may be able to establish your birth details. This can be done simultaneously with the request for a first name change and is essentially the same process. However, you must be able to prove that you cannot obtain a birth certificate. If you have been recognized as a refugee (in the past), it is generally assumed that you cannot approach the country of origin to request a birth certificate. In that case, your birth details can be established, and there are no additional costs associated with this. This applies (but is not limited to) countries such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Syria.
I want to change my last name. How can I do that?
For this, you can best contact the government service Justis. You can find general information about changing a last name on our webpage about name changes. In general, you don’t need a lawyer for this, but in some cases, it’s possible to change a last name without applying through Justis.
The request for a first name change has been approved. What happens next?
For the further completion, you don’t need to do anything. After the expiration of the appeal period, the court will send the decision to the municipality of your birth with a request to register it. Once the birth municipality has processed the decision, they will inform your municipality of residence. You will then receive a letter from them indicating that you can apply for a new identity card, etc.
How can I update my diplomas after a successful first name change?
You can easily have a new diploma updated through DUO. After the first name change request, you can download or request an extract from the diploma register, a statement of examination (VAE), or a replacement educational document (VOD) from DUO.
Can I change my first name from abroad?
Yes, this is possible. An exception applies to BES and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; there you should contact the court of your place of residence. For the rest, it is generally possible to submit a request for a change of your first name according to Dutch law from anywhere in the world, provided that you have Dutch nationality.
I want to change the first names of multiple children. Can this be done in one procedure?
Yes, it is possible. A request to change the first names of multiple children will be processed at the regular office rate (once). Additionally, a single court fee is required for the request.
What is the cost of a request for a change of first name?
We charge a standard fee of €699,- including VAT and including court fees. These costs cover the entire procedure from start to finish, regardless of whether it may involve an oral hearing in court.
Is a no-cure-no-pay arrangement possible for a first name change?
No, legal regulations in the legal profession do not allow for this. As an experiment, lawyers are allowed to use a no-cure-no-pay rate (temporarily) in personal injury cases, but this type of arrangement is not permitted for other cases.
Mijn naam is gewijzigd. Waar moet ik dit allemaal doorgeven?
In many cases, the name is automatically updated at some agencies. If you are not registered in the Netherlands, the name change will not be automatically processed in the Dutch records unless you re-register in the Netherlands. However, you can apply for a new passport with the updated name by making an appointment at the Dutch embassy in your country of residence. In principle, you will need your new amended birth certificate for this. If desired, we can request and send it to you after completing the name change procedure. By completing the name change procedure, you will always have a Dutch birth certificate, even if you were not born in the Netherlands.
About requests for surname changes
For general (brief) information about a request for a surname change, we refer you to the page on surname changes.
To change a surname, you do not need a lawyer. In principle, you can easily submit the application yourself through Justis. In some cases, it is also possible to change a surname outside of Justis, for example, when there are international aspects involved (such as an adoption, recognition, or marriage abroad) or in an application for joint custody
That’s why you choose us
- 98.9% success rate;
- Also available pro bono;
- Free and non-binding assessment in advance;
- Your application is treated with complete confidentiality (of course);
- Nationwide handling of your request, including any court hearings in the Netherlands.