diff --git a/onadata/apps/messaging/serializers.py b/onadata/apps/messaging/serializers.py
index 4f24232b80..ce6cbea91c 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/messaging/serializers.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/messaging/serializers.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext as _
 from rest_framework import exceptions, serializers
 
+from onadata.apps.logger.models import Instance
 from onadata.apps.messaging.constants import MESSAGE, MESSAGE_VERBS
 from onadata.apps.messaging.utils import TargetDoesNotExist, get_target
 
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ def send_message(
     target_type: str,
     user: User,
     message_verb: str,
+    custom_message: dict = None
 ):
     """
     Send a message.
@@ -180,12 +182,21 @@ def send_message(
             ids = instance_id
             while len(ids) > 0:
                 data["message"] = json.dumps({"id": ids[:message_id_limit]})
+                if custom_message:
+                    message_dict = json.loads(data["message"])
+                    message_dict.update(custom_message)
+                    data["message"] = json.dumps(message_dict)
                 message = MessageSerializer(data=data, context={"request": request})
                 del ids[:message_id_limit]
                 if message.is_valid():
                     message.save()
         else:
             data["message"] = json.dumps({"id": instance_id})
+            if custom_message:
+                # update default message dict with extra fields
+                message_dict = json.loads(data["message"])
+                message_dict.update(custom_message)
+                data["message"] = json.dumps(message_dict)
             message = MessageSerializer(data=data, context={"request": request})
             if message.is_valid():
                 message.save()
diff --git a/onadata/apps/messaging/tests/test_utils.py b/onadata/apps/messaging/tests/test_utils.py
index 11e0336270..29d51ec61b 100644
--- a/onadata/apps/messaging/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/onadata/apps/messaging/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 """
 Tests messaging app utils
 """
+import json
+from django.http.request import HttpRequest
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from onadata.apps.main.tests.test_base import TestBase
 from onadata.apps.messaging.serializers import send_message
-from onadata.apps.messaging.constants import SUBMISSION_DELETED
+from onadata.apps.messaging.constants import (
+    SUBMISSION_DELETED, FORM_RENAMED
+)
 
 
 class TestMessagingUtils(TestBase):
@@ -32,3 +36,41 @@ def is_valid():
             self.xform.id, 'xform', self.user, SUBMISSION_DELETED)
         self.assertTrue(message_serializer_mock.called)
         self.assertEqual(message_serializer_mock.call_count, 2)
+
+    @patch('onadata.apps.messaging.serializers.MessageSerializer')
+    def test_custom_message(self, message_serializer_mock):
+        def is_valid():
+            return True
+        message_serializer_mock.is_valid.side_effect = is_valid
+        self._create_user_and_login()
+        self._publish_transportation_form()
+        instance_id = [1]
+        custom_message = {
+            "old_title": "first title",
+            "new_title": "second title"
+        }
+        send_message(
+            instance_id,
+            self.xform.id,
+            'xform',
+            self.user,
+            FORM_RENAMED,
+            custom_message
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(message_serializer_mock.called)
+        self.assertEqual(message_serializer_mock.call_count, 1)
+        request = HttpRequest()
+        data = {
+                "target_id": self.xform.id,
+                "target_type": 'xform',
+                "verb": FORM_RENAMED,
+                "message": json.dumps({
+                    "id": [self.xform.id],
+                    "old_title": "first title",
+                    "new_title": "second title"
+                })
+            }
+        message_serializer_mock.called_with(
+            data=data, context={"request": request}
+        )
+