Common uses
- Providing a clear written statement or authorization.
- Supporting a request from a school, business, agency, or service provider.
- Creating a signed record that may require acknowledgment or an oath.
Before your notary session
- Confirm the recipient accepts a general template.
- Review names, dates, addresses, and identification details carefully.
- Do not sign until you are connected with the notary unless instructed otherwise.
Who should use this document?
- A person whose legal, former, married, shortened, translated, misspelled, or otherwise varied names appear across records.
- A lender, school, employer, insurer, court, government office, or record custodian that accepts a sworn explanation of name variations.
When is notarization commonly requested?
Lenders, title companies, schools, employers, courts, insurers, and government or records offices may request a notarized name affidavit. It does not legally change a name or correct an official record unless the responsible authority accepts that process.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Failing to list every relevant name exactly as it appears in records.
- Not explaining the relationship between the name variations.
- Using an affidavit instead of the authority’s formal name-change or correction procedure.
- Signing before the required oath or acknowledgment.
Compare these documents
These documents can appear in similar situations, but they serve different purposes. Confirm which one the receiving organization wants.
Name Affidavit
Explains name variations that refer to the same person.
Identity Affidavit
Addresses broader identity facts or relationships between records.
Read the related guideFrequently asked questions
Does a name affidavit legally change my name?
No. It explains name variations. A legal name change or official-record correction follows the process required by the responsible authority.
Should I copy each name exactly from the records?
Yes. Accurate spelling, spacing, order, initials, and former names help the recipient compare the records.