Legal Name Change Guatemala 2026: RENAP + Judicial Process

Legally changing your name or surname in Guatemala is NOT done directly at RENAP. It requires first a judicial process or voluntary notarial jurisdiction, and only after the final ruling can RENAP perform the partida rectification on your birth record.

Quick answer: You need an attorney. Total cost Q500-2000 in attorney fees + publications + Q15 RENAP certification + Q100 new DPI (RENAP’s fee schedule has no charge for registering the rectification). Total time 3-9 months (judicial + RENAP + new DPI). The law lets you ask “por cualquier motivo” (for any reason), stating your reasons (Civil and Commercial Procedure Code Art. 438; Decree 54-77 Art. 18); what stops it is a third party’s objection.

What is a name or surname change?

In Guatemala the name is a personality right regulated by the Civil Code (Decree-Law 106), articles 4 through 7. Art. 6 says people may not change their names except with judicial authorization; Decree 54-77 also allows it before a notary. The law lists no causes: you can ask “por cualquier motivo” (for any reason), stating your reasons (Civil and Commercial Procedure Code Art. 438).

There are two procedural paths:

1. Judicial path (family or civil court): for contentious or complex cases.
2. Voluntary notarial jurisdiction (Decree 54-77, Arts. 18-20): if there is no third-party opposition, a notary can handle the case outside court. If someone objects, the notary sends the file to the court (Art. 20).

Both paths end with a final ruling that is registered at RENAP via partida rectification.

Common reasons (the Civil Code lists no causes)

The Civil Code has no list of causes; these are common reasons, not legal requirements. Several have their own route (rectification of a record, identification of a person, adoption, filiation):

• Error in original registration: misspelled name, surnames swapped, missing letter.
• Ridiculous, dignity-harming, or mockable name: extravagant names registered without discretion.
• Serious moral, religious, or social grounds: religious conversion, negative association with a known person.
• Gender identity: for trans persons (growing case law since 2020).
• Adoption: the adopted person can take the adopters’ surnames.
• Marriage (married surname): a wife can add “de [husband surname]” as an addition.
• Divorce (recovery of maiden surname): if she adopted husband’s surname during marriage.
• Paternity recognition or disavowal: changes the paternal surname after a filiation suit.

The law lets you request the change “por cualquier motivo” (Civil and Commercial Procedure Code Art. 438; Decree 54-77 Art. 18); if nobody objects within ten days of the last publication, the judge “accederá al cambio de nombre” (will grant the change; Art. 439).

Requirements

To start the process

• Memorial signed by an active licensed attorney: personal direct applications are not accepted.
• Valid birth certification (issued within the last 6 months by RENAP). Request it at eportal.renap.gob.gt.
• DPI photocopy of the applicant (both sides, legible).
• Criminal background check current (Judicial Branch; about Q30 (La Hora, January 2026; no gratuity law in force), online via oj.gob.gt).
• Police background check current (PNC; about Q30 per MINGOB).
• Documentary justification of the cause: records, photos, witnesses, psychological evaluations (for gender identity), adoption certification, etc.
• Published notice: the request is published in the Diario Oficial (Diario de Centro América) and one other major newspaper, three times within thirty days; anyone who feels harmed can object, and the resolution comes once ten days pass after the last publication without objection. The change is then published once more in the Diario Oficial (Civil and Commercial Procedure Code Arts. 438-439; Decree 54-77 Arts. 18-19). Cost Q50-150 each publication.

For RENAP registration (after the ruling)

RENAP handles it as an “Inscripción de cambio de nombre” (name-change registration, notarial or judicial). Its requirement pages (checked 24 September 2026) ask for:

• Notarial route: certification of the final resolution of the proceedings, original and duplicate, plus original and photocopy of the last publication in the Diario de Centro América.
• Court route: certification of the court resolution, plus original and photocopy of the last publication in the Diario de Centro América.
• In every case: the RENAP form where one exists and proof of payment of the late-registration fee (Q25) only when it applies (Acuerdo de Directorio 104-2015, Art. 16). The RENAP Law (Art. 84) makes registrations filed within 30 days free; the fee schedule sets no separate payment slip for this registration.

Step-by-step

1. Consult with an attorney. Pick a civil or family lawyer. Ask for a clear quote: includes fees, publication costs, background checks, court trips.

2. Document gathering. Collect birth certification, DPI, background checks, evidence of the cause.

3. Decide path: judicial (court) or notarial (voluntary jurisdiction). The attorney recommends based on the case.

   • Notarial: faster (2-4 months), cheaper, valid if there’s no opposition.
   • Judicial: slower (4-8 months), but mandatory if minors are involved, family opposition, or sensitive cases.

4. Open the file. The attorney files a memorial at court or formalizes it before a notary. A case number is assigned.

5. Notice publication. Published three times within thirty days in the Diario de Centro América and one other major newspaper. Opposition window: ten days from the last publication.

6. Hearing (judicial path only). The judge may request appearance, witnesses, psychological exam. Notarial: usually no hearing.

7. Final ruling. If no opposition or objections, judge or notary issues the resolution. Timeframe: 30-60 more days after edict.

8. RENAP rectification. With the ruling in hand, file the application at the RENAP office in your municipality or Sede Central. RENAP’s fee schedule (Acuerdo 15-2020 / 12-2021) has no charge for registering the rectification; you pay for the new certification (Q15). Time: 5-15 business days.

9. Renew DPI. Once the partida is rectified, book an appointment on eportal RENAP to renew DPI with the new name. Cost Q100. Time 30 days.

10. Update everything else: NIT at SAT (free), passport (IGM: US$50 for 5 years / US$85 for 10 years), bank, IGSS, employer, vendors, academic records, property registries.

Cost and timing breakdown

Common errors and how to avoid them

• Thinking it’s done directly at RENAP: RENAP does NOT accept name change applications without a final judicial or notarial ruling. Don’t waste the trip.

• Choosing judicial path when notarial is viable: if your case isn’t contentious (no opposition), voluntary notarial jurisdiction is 50-70% faster and cheaper.

• Not publishing the edict correctly: the edict must be published in Diario de Centro America (mandatory) and a major-circulation newspaper. If you only publish in one, the judge/notary cannot issue the ruling. Verify required publications with your attorney.

• Not keeping a copy of the final ruling: when you collect the sentence or deed, request additional certified copies. You need them for RENAP, bank, SAT, and other future procedures.

• Forgetting to update other records: your name changes legally from the rectification, but if your bank account, NIT, IGSS, or passport stay with the old name, you create problems. Make a checklist and update in priority order: DPI first, then SAT, then bank, then passport.

• Not considering impact on minors: if you have minor children, changing your surname can affect their paternal or maternal surname registration. Consult an attorney first.

Special cases

Change by marriage (wife adds husband’s surname)

In Guatemala, marriage does NOT automatically change the surname. The wife keeps her maiden surnames. If she wants to add the husband’s surname preceded by “de” (example: Maria Garcia de Lopez), it’s registered as an addition, not a change. The procedure is simpler:

• Present marriage certification at RENAP.
• Request surname addition as marginal annotation on birth record.
• Cost: the annotation carries no fee in RENAP’s schedule; you pay the new certification (Q15). No judicial process.

Recovery of maiden surname after divorce

If the wife adopted “de [husband surname]” during marriage and in the divorce wants to recover only maiden surnames:

• Civil Code Art. 108 gives the wife the right to add her spouse’s surname and keep it for good, unless the marriage is dissolved by nullity or by divorce: divorce ends that right without a separate suit.
• What you do is register the divorce at RENAP (certification of the ruling + birth certifications of both spouses) and then update the DPI.

See divorce registration.

Change by gender identity

Increasing cases since 2020. Some courts accept voluntary notarial jurisdiction with a psychological report; others require full judicial path. Consult organizations like OTRANS Reinas de la Noche or LGBTQ associations that provide specialized legal assistance.

Change by adoption

After an adoption ruling, the adopted person’s surnames automatically change to the adopters’. RENAP rectification is done by presenting the adoption ruling. No registration fee; the new certification costs Q15.

Related procedures

• Main hub: all RENAP procedures
• Partida rectification — the final step at RENAP after the ruling
• Birth certification — base document required
• Get or renew DPI — to obtain DPI with the new name
• Civil marriage registration
• Divorce registration
• Book appointment on eportal RENAP — to attend the rectification appointment

Official links

• renap.gob.gt - Services — official procedures page
• eportal.renap.gob.gt — portal for booking and online services
• RENAP document validation
• Guatemala Civil Code (PDF, OAS) — articles 4-7 on the name
• Judicial Branch - Criminal background — for processing background checks online
• RENAP phone: 1516 (call center) or PBX +502 2416-1900 (head office, Calzada Roosevelt 13-46 zona 7; per renap.gob.gt, 24 September 2026)

RENAP fees verified September 5, 2026 against the current fee schedule (Acuerdo de Directorio 15-2020 as amended by 12-2021: birth certification Q15, other certifications Q25, late registration Q25, DPI Q100; no fee exists for registering a rectification). Passport per the IGM table. Everything else verified May 2026. Judicial costs and attorney fees can vary by region, complexity, and professional. Publication fees in official newspapers update periodically. Consult a licensed civil or family attorney to evaluate your specific case.