Minas Gerais ranks second in Brazil for administrative name changes

Since the enactment of Federal Law No. 14.382/22 in July 2022, thousands of Brazilians have been able to change their first names directly through Civil Registry Offices without requiring prior judicial authorization. This legislative change allows adults over 18 to request name or surname modifications by presenting required documentation, removing the previous necessity of presenting a justification to a judge.

Data from the National Association of Natural Person Registrars (Arpen-Brasil) indicates that Minas Gerais ranks second nationally in name changes, with 4,375 recorded instances. São Paulo leads the country with 9,149 changes, followed by Minas Gerais and Bahia, which has 3,676. In the municipality of Uberaba alone, 37 residents have utilized this administrative procedure.

While the law aims to de-bureaucratize the process and facilitate personal identity recognition, costs and documentation requirements remain. In Minas Gerais, service fees start at R$ 639.88, though legal provisions for free services may apply in certain cases.