The evidence required to accompany a change or correction of name of a registered owner is dependant on the reason for the change/correction.
In all instances, the documentation/evidence provided must clearly show the chain of events that resulted in the name change and prove that the triggering event(s) has occurred to satisfy the district registrar that the registered owner on title is one and the same person as the applicant requesting the change of name which will result in a new title issuing with that intended name.
Correction of name
A request to correct a name must be accompanied by appropriate proof of the registered owner’s full, true and correct legal name. Proof can come in the form of a certificate (birth, marriage, change of name, etc.) from Vital Statistics or another official government issued identity document (i.e. valid passport, driver’s licence, etc.).
Due to common law relationship
In Manitoba, parties have the right to change their name by virtue of a common-law relationship. They may change their name to any of the following:
a. The surname that their common-law partner had immediately before the commencement of the common-law relationship;
b. To a surname consisting of the surnames (hyphenated or combined) that both partners had immediately before the commencement of the common-law relationship; or
c. To the surname that their common-law partner had immediately before the commencement of the common-law relationship while retaining their own surname as a given name.
As proof of this change the original certificate of election of surname from Vital Statistics Branch must be attached to the Request form (Form 15.1) as evidence.
Due to marriage
In Manitoba, parties have the right to change their name following marriage. They may change their name to any of the following:
a. The surname that their spouse had immediately before the marriage;
b. To a surname consisting of the surnames (hyphenated or combined) that both spouses had immediately before the marriage; or
c. To the surname that their spouse had immediately before the marriage while retaining their own surname as a given name.
As proof of this change the original marriage certificate (or a notarial copy) from Vital Statistics Branch must be attached to the Request form (Form 15.1) as evidence.
The registration of marriage form is not a marriage certificate and it will not be accepted for registration purposes unless the registration of marriage form has a Vital Statistics Branch registration number in the box located on the top right corner of the form and is certified and signed by Vital Statistics Branch.
The marriage license will not be accepted for registration purposes either.
Due to divorce/termination of common law relationship/death of spouse
When a marriage or common law relationship ends because of either divorce or termination of the common law relationship or the death of a spouse, a party may change their name. They may change their name to any of the following:
a. The name they had immediately prior to the marriage
i. As proof of this change the original divorce certificate OR original death certificate together with the original marriage certificate;
b. The name they had immediately prior to common law relationship
i. As proof of this change the original certificate of resumption of surname; or
c. Their birth name
i. As proof of this change the original divorce certificate OR original death certificate together with the original marriage certificate and birth certificate, if required.
All original certificates (or notarial copies) from Vital Statistics Branch must be attached to the Request form (Form 15.1) as evidence.
Where there is a complex chain of names changes (typically involving several marriages and then either divorces and/or death of a spouse) originals of all marriage certificates, divorce certificates and death certificates (or notarial copies) from Vital Statistics Branch or the Court (as the case may be) must be attached as evidence to establish an unbroken chain between the name of the registered owner on title and the name the party is now intending to use.
NOTE: Where an original certificate is provided it will be returned to the registrant upon completion or rejection of the registration.