The Service: Filing the Application and Appealing a Refusal
Changing a name or surname is a personal decision, but its implementation is an administrative proceeding: a personal application, an oral hearing, evidentiary support and strict deadlines. Within this service the Legal.ge team provides full representation: we assess whether your case fits the statutory conditions; prepare the documentation; prepare you for the oral hearing; and in case of refusal — draft the appeal and represent your interests.
One circumstance must be clear from the start: for changing a first name, the law does not require any justification of reasons — the basis of the decision is the authorised person's declaration. The honest picture is that changing a surname requires a concrete statutory ground to exist — and it is precisely this distinction that we explain at the first consultation.
Who May Change a Name or Surname (Article 62)
The right belongs to a citizen of Georgia and to a stateless person holding status in Georgia whose birth is registered in Georgia. A change requires registration by the civil acts registration body, and the basis of registration is the declaration of the authorised person together with the existence of the circumstances foreseen by law.
Minors and Limited Capacity (Article 63)
For a minor between 16 and 18, the change is admissible at that person's request and with the consent of a parent (parents) or other legal representative. For a minor under 16, the change proceeds by the parents' agreement; where the parents disagree, the question is decided by the court, taking the child's interests into account. The surname of a minor under 10 changes together with the parent's surname change, while a child over 10 may be renamed only with the child's consent. For an adult with limited capacity, the change is admissible at that person's request and with the curator's consent.
Grounds for a Surname Change: The List and the Historical Surname (Articles 64–66)
An adult may change his first name at his own will only once, unless the law provides otherwise. When changing a surname, a person may take: the parents' combined surname; the surname of a relative of the direct ascending line (up to the fourth generation inclusive); a surname resulting from combining one's own with that of an ascending-line relative; the surname of a foster parent or adoptive parent; the premarital surname, if not restored upon divorce; the father's surname upon establishment of paternity; a historical surname; or a surname granted by an authority of another state. For certain grounds, the surname may likewise be changed only once.
The restoration of a historical surname is a distinctive institution: a person may request it where the totality of evidence confirms that his surname originated from the transformation of another surname, or from a representative of his historical surname taking a different one; alongside other evidence, a reasoned scientific hypothesis may also serve as a ground. There is also the institution of lawful recognition of a surname — recognising the surname actually held in documents where returning to the one in the record involves disproportionate costs, and the person held that surname for at least 5 years before the law entered into force.
Procedure and Grounds for Refusal (Articles 67–69)
A person who has reached 16 must personally address the agency's territorial service or, abroad, a Georgian diplomatic representation or consular institution. The question is decided by the territorial service under the formal administrative proceedings of the General Administrative Code. An oral hearing is held, and the interested person must be notified of its date no later than 10 days before; failing to appear despite notice leaves the application unexamined. An exception applies to documented cases of severe illness or physical condition — then the application may be submitted electronically or through a representative, and no oral hearing is held.
The decision and registration take place on the 60th calendar day from submission, and expedited service on this ground is inadmissible. The lawful grounds of refusal are clearly enumerated: a name may not consist of digits, punctuation marks, geometric figures, graphic images, symbols, obscene or offensive words, or more than two names; combining double surnames is inadmissible; the change will not be made where the person is suspected of a crime and is wanted, where less than 5 years have passed since deportation or readmission, or where criminal prosecution is ongoing — including an Interpol search. A refusal is appealed under the general procedure — administratively or in court; we guide that stage fully as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we hear most often about name and surname changes:
Must I justify the reason?
For a first name — no: the law does not set reasons; the basis is the declaration. For a surname, a concrete statutory ground is required: combining the parents' surnames, an ascending-line surname, a historical surname and others. We determine which ground fits your situation.
Within what period is the application examined?
The decision and the registration of the respective civil act take place on the 60th calendar day from submission. Expedited service on this ground is inadmissible — so planning matters.
Can there be a refusal, and how is it appealed?
Yes — for instance choosing digits, symbols or offensive words as a name, combining double surnames, being wanted, less than 5 years since deportation, or ongoing prosecution. A refusal is appealed administratively or in court — we guide that route.
Who applies for a minor's change?
Between 16 and 18 — the minor's own request with a parent's or legal representative's consent; under 16 — by the parents' agreement, and where they disagree the court decides, considering the child's interests. A child over 10 may be renamed only with the child's consent.
How We Help on Legal.ge
Contact us on Legal.ge: we will determine your ground and the appropriate route; prepare the documentation and the application; prepare you for the oral hearing — where your substantiation determines the outcome; and in case of refusal, draft the appeal and represent you. Your name is your identity; its change should happen lawfully and without friction.