Text of the provision
Art. 376. No person can change his name or surname without judicial authority.
Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386, approved June 18, 1949, effective August 30, 1950. Reproduced in full; verified verbatim against the LawPhil and ChanRobles official-text renderings.
What this article means
No person may change his name or surname without judicial authority. A change of name is a matter for a court, not a private decision or a mere change in usage.
Related provisions
- Article 375 — Junior, II, III.
- Article 377 — Usurpation of a Name.
Cases citing this article
- Francis Luigi G. Santos vs. Republic of the Philippines, The Office of the Local, G.R. No. 250520, May 5, 2021 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Republic of the Philippines vs. Charlie Mintas Felix a.k.a. Shirley Mintas Felix, G.R. No. 203371, June 30, 2020 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Dr. Ruben C. Bartolome vs. Republic of the Philippines, G.R. No. 243288, August 28, 2019 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Republic of the Philippines vs. Michelle Soriano Gallo, G.R. No. 207074, January 17, 2018 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Silvero vs. Republic of the Philippines, G.R. No. 174689, October 22, 2007 — read the decision on LawPhil →
Compiled automatically from Supreme Court decisions published on LawPhil that expressly cite this article, most frequently cited first. A listing means the decision cites the provision — it is not a statement that the case is the leading authority, and it does not show whether a ruling has since been modified or abandoned. Always read the decision itself.