Envie de changer de prénom? Ce que dit la loi en Belgique

Do you like your name and dream of changing it? You are not the only one: In 2024, there are actually nearly 6,000 Belgians who have requirements. But is the process so simple? Lawyer inventory.

Olivia, Maëlle, Thomas, Cédric…If most Belgians like the name their parents chose, then 10% of them say they are not satisfied, according to the recent one from the tag site Myynametags.s.be. Some find it old and old when others think it doesn’t reflect their personality enough. Good news: Belgian law allows you to modify it. What are the conditions, steps and restrictions? Aurélievanholder, the lawyer and document manager in Brussels, inspired us.

Choose the correct name

Long before birth, the choice of a name was a delicate step. Some future parents have found the ideal name, even when they learn that they will have babies, when others have spent months thinking about the issue. But what is Belgian legislation comment on this choice?

Aurélievanholder explains: “The work of the Belgians on the principle of choice is not prohibited. There is no ban on its own, but 2 restrictions bring a framework: the framework does not bring confusion and cannot harm children (or others). There is no need to be confused, for example, it is a name, or does not give a last name, avoids a name to avoid using a frans name and and and and of a Brand and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and

“Yes, anyone can change their name, but to do so in Belgium you must be a Belgian nationality or a recognized refugee. As far as the capacity of the territory is concerned, a request must be made to their city of residence. If you are a resident of Belgium. If you are a living party, you must be the last one you live in.

At what price?

In addition to possible psychological costs, this personal and symbolic approach can also be motivated by redefined needs – such changes also bring economic costs. Not everyone is placed under the same brand. “The price of the program to change the name is based on municipal taxes, so it depends on the town we are in. From 0 euros to 490 euros.

Gender issues?

There is one exception for those who are convinced of the gender mentioned in their birth certificate. “In this case, the municipality can ask for the maximum 10% of the price, i.e. up to 49 euros. Note that these people do not have to start the process of gender change to benefit from this price. They must simply prove that the procedure is part of this context.”

Administrative Procedures

Therefore, changing the name itself is not complicated: the steps are very limited. “You have to go to the counter of the municipality to fill in enough forms. After making a request, it takes up to 3 months to change the name.”

All the actual consequences of this modification take the most time. “You have to warn the agency to make this change to adjust your ID, passport, driver’s license, etc. This is automatic for all agencies that have access to national registrations, such as mutual aid, reciprocity, finance, etc. But, for example, this is not the case for banks. Finally, if you are not from Belgium, then it is not your country nor.

More and more phenomena

If changing the name remains the exception in Belgium, more and more citizens are demanding it. “In Belgium, in 2024, it spins about 6,000 people. In 2023, we had 5,800 requests, in 2022, 5,100. These requirements have increased because it has become more accessible and people have taken the steps.”

And you, do you like your name?

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