I Want to Change My Legal Name

You will then need to apply for a name change. This is essentially a form that you present to your local clerk. It includes your current and suggested name, your Social Security number, and sometimes a signed statement that you are not a convicted felon or that you do not have a pending arrest warrant. You must sign this form in front of a witness and a notary. Thinking about changing your name? This guide to legally changing your name will help you get started. Even if you don`t get married, you usually have to announce your new name to the world in the form of a newspaper ad. Name changes cost a few hundred dollars and vary depending on where you sign up. The judge will sign this form to legally change your name. Complete all fields on the form except the judge`s signature. You may be able to correct the spelling of your name without going to court. Contact the Texas Vital Statistics Unit to discuss your situation. If you need a court order, you can use the forms in this package.

If you want to get your maiden name back after the divorce, you can apply for it during the divorce process in most states. The judge can then make an order to reinstate your old name. You will need a copy of the order as proof of the change to update your Social Security card and driver`s license. There are two ways to go if you change your last name. The easiest way to change your last name is through marriage. The other way is to file a petition to change your name in the county where you reside, which takes a little longer. The process of legally changing your name differs depending on the laws of your state and why you want the change. You also can`t change your name to an intentionally misleading name, such as that of a celebrity. Individuals are prohibited from using a name containing punctuation or numbers, although some courts have allowed the use of periods or the spelling of numbers. In these circumstances, there is no fee (unless you want the forms to be sent) and all of the above documents must be sent to: If the court has not ordered a name change in your final divorce decree, your name will not be changed. Some states have different name change procedures for everyone except for a woman who adopts her husband`s surname after marriage (including hyphenation), depending on the circumstances. Therefore, a formal application for a name change must be filed with the court in the following circumstances: You can use the forms in this guide to ask a court to change your name if: As LegalZoom explains, “In most states, before a court legally changes your name, you must publish a notice of your planned change in a newspaper.

This allows your creditors and other interested parties to oppose the change. At the very least, they will be informed that your name will change. “People change their names for a variety of reasons. By far, the most common reason people change their name (surname) is due to marriage or divorce. Here are some other reasons: Once you`ve legally changed your name, consider changing your name as well: In general, the six steps to a name change vary from state to state, but the following list is a good place to start. Check with your local court to get all the necessary requirements for a name change in your area. If you need help, a family law lawyer can prepare your petition and answer your questions. “In total, changing my name took me about three days of work and over $300,” says writer and literary agent Kate McKean Billfold. After receiving confirmation that the name associated with your Social Security number has changed, you can proceed with the name change process. If you got married and want to change your last name, you usually don`t have to file an application with the court.

Instead, you must submit documents to the Social Security Administration, including: To legally change your name, you must file a petition with your local Supreme Court. If you are requesting a name change, you must publish your petition and wait at least 30 days before a hearing. Once the court approves your name change application, you must update your name on government-issued ID and other documents. A: While most names are on the table, there are usually restrictions on your ability to change your name at will. For example, you cannot change your name to avoid creditors or arrests, to mislead, confuse or offend others. Numbers and special characters are generally not allowed for name changes. Adults and children decide to change their names for a variety of reasons. LegalZoom makes it easy to get court approval for your name change. Once issued, you can use your new name for all government and financial documents.

Learn more. As you may have noticed, it`s much easier to change your name when you get married or divorced because you don`t have to go through the process of filing an application in court. Your loved ones may not understand the reasons why you change your name, especially if you choose to give up a surname or change the birth name your parents gave you. People change their names for a variety of reasons. State law regulates what you can call yourself. While you can call yourself pretty unique things, there are a few concrete rules for name changes that you need to stick to.