Law 40/1999, of November 5, has given new wording to articles 109 of the Civil Code and 54 and 55 of the Law of the Civil Registry in the field concerning the name and the order of them. The final provision of the same law entrusts the government with the modification, within three months, of the Regulation of the Civil Registry in what is necessary to bring it into line with the provisions of that Law.

The purpose of this Royal Decree is essentially that of strict compliance with this legal mandate.

In its virtue, on the proposal of the Minister of Justice, in agreement with the Council of State and after deliberation of the Council of Ministers at its meeting of February 11, 2000,

D I S P O N G O:

Single item.

The articles of the Civil Registry Regulation, approved by Decree of 14 November 1958, which are listed below, will have the following wording:

" Article 192.

No more than two single or compound names can be imposed. When two simple names are imposed, they will be joined by a hyphen and both will be written with an initial capital.

It is considered that they objectively harm the person's own names which, in themselves or in combination with the surnames, are contrary to decorum.

The replacement of your own name by your onomastic equivalent in any of the Spanish languages will require, if it is not known, that the appropriate means of equivalence and the correct spelling of the name be credited requested ".

" Article 194.

If the filiation is determined by both lines and except the option provided for in Article 109 of the Civil Code, the first surname of a Spanish is the first of the father and second last name of the first of the mother's personal, even if it's foreign. "

" Article 198.

The investment of surnames of the elderly can be formalized by simple declaration before the person in charge of the Civil Registry of the domicile and has no effect as long as it does not register.

The same regime applies to the spelling of the surnames in order to adapt them to the grammar and phonetic of the corresponding Spanish language. Where it is not a known fact, it must be established by the appropriate means that the surname belongs to a vernacular and its exact graphic in this language. '

Single transient arrangement.

If, at the time of the entry into force of Law 40/1999 of 5 November, parents have children under the same age of the same bond, they may, by common agreement, decide on the preposition of the maternal surname for all the siblings. If such minor children have completed the 12-year period, the alteration of the order of their surnames shall require their hearing and approval in the case of the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

Single end disposition.

This Royal Decree shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the "Official Gazette of the State".

Given in Madrid on February 11, 2000.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Minister of Justice,

GANTE AND MIRON MARISCAL MARGARITA