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VSA 529 2021/08/13
Obtaining a Waiver of Parental/Guardian(s) Consent
Under the British Columbia Name Act
The following is a list of grounds on which a waiver of parental/guardian consent may be approved and the documents required. Choose the one that best
applies to your situation and provide ALL of the requested information. If information cannot be provided, include a letter of explanation.
Statements made in a statutory declaration are considered the equivalent of statements made in a Court of Law and may provide
the basis for action against the applicant if they are proven to be fraudulent.
additional information.
This information is collected by the Vital Statistics Agency under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act,
requirements of the Vital Statistics Act for the release of change of name information. Should you have any questions about the collection of this personal information,
please contact:
A)
The other parent/guardian(s) cannot be located after a reasonable, diligent and adequate search has been conducted as demonstrated by the
statutory declaration and supporting evidence maintained in the change of name le.
Custody/guardianship order. Obtain an order from the courts prior to applying to legally change the name(s) of your child(ren).
In your statutory declaration list the full mailing address, phone numbers, email addresses and any other contact information for the parent/
guardian(s) whose consent is(are) to be waived.
If you are unaware of the whereabouts of the other parent/guardian(s):
m AND
m Provide proof of attempted contact or conversation thread regarding the change of name through social media (e.g. Facebook),
In your statutory declaration, you must include ALL of the information listed at the top of page 9, "Statutory Declaration-Request to Waive
Consent of Other Parent/Guardian(s)".
If you are registered with the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP), include a copy of your latest statement. If you are not registered
with FMEP, include a statement indicating that you do or do not receive support from the other parent/guardian(s).
Children 12 years of age or older must write a brief letter in their own words describing why they would like their name to be changed. The letter
must be handwritten in ink, and signed and dated by the child.
B)
The other parent/guardian(s) is(are) deceased, proven by a copy of a government-issued death certicate maintained in the change of name
le.
C)
The other parent/guardian(s) is(are) unreasonably withholding their consent.
Custody/guardianship order. Obtain an order from the courts prior to applying to legally change the name(s) of your child(ren).
In your statutory declaration, you must include ALL of the information listed at the top of page 9, "Statutory Declaration-Request to Waive
Consent of Other Parent/Guardian(s)".
If you are registered with the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP), include a copy of your latest statement. If you are not registered
with FMEP, include a statement indicating that you do or do not receive support from the other parent.
Children 12 years of age or older must write a brief letter in their own words describing why they would like their name to be changed. The letter
must be handwritten in ink, and signed and dated by the child.
D)
The other parent/guardian(s) is(are) mentally disordered, as demonstrated by statutory declaration and supporting evidence
Custody/guardianship order. Obtain an order from the courts prior to applying to legally change the name(s) of your child(ren).
A letter from a physician/court order stating the person whose consent is to be waived is incapable of understanding what they would be signing.
Children 12 years of age or older must write a brief letter in their own words describing why they would like their name to be changed. The letter
must be handwritten in ink, and signed and dated by the child.
E)
Exceptional circumstances make it unreasonable to seek the consent of the other parent/guardian(s). Unless you can provide a valid court
ordered restraining order/no contact order between the other parent/guardian(s) and the child(ren) this option does not apply.
Custody/guardianship order. Obtain an order from the courts prior to applying to legally change the name(s) of your child(ren)
m OR
m OR
m A letter from the police indicating you would be in danger if you attempted to contact the parent/guardian(s) whose consent is required.
Children 12 years of age or older must write a brief letter in their own words describing why they would like their name to be changed. The letter
must be handwritten in ink, and signed and dated by the child.