Summary

This bill amends The Change of Name Act, 1995 to allow single names based on culture or religion, permit non-Roman characters in names, remove the two-component limit on surnames, eliminate the requirement to notify a spouse when changing one's own name, and clarify that only people legally entitled to remain in Canada on a permanent basis are eligible to change their name in Saskatchewan.

Under current Saskatchewan law, a legal name must have both a given name and a surname, surnames can have at most two components, and names must be written in Roman alphabet characters. This bill changes those rules. It allows someone to register a single name (no surname) if that reflects their culture or religion, and permits names to be written in non-Roman characters if regulations allow. It removes the cap on how many components a surname can have. The bill also changes spousal notification rules: currently, if you want to change your own name and you are married or in a spousal relationship, you must either prove you notified your spouse or swear you are separated. This bill removes that requirement entirely, though you still need your spouse's written consent if you are applying to change their name. Finally, the bill clarifies that only people legally entitled to remain in Canada on a permanent basis can apply for a name change in Saskatchewan, and it makes some administrative changes such as allowing the registrar discretion over whether to update records when a name change happens in another province or country.