How to Change Your Name

You can change your name with a simple court procedure, but understand that you can change your legal name only if a court allows you to. Anyone may use an alias, but you cannot get legal papers, such as a driver's license or passport, in any name but your legal name.

Instructions

STEP 1: Contact a local attorney to get information about the procedure for name changing in your state.

STEP 2: Consider handling the process yourself. Often no court appearance is needed.

STEP 3: Contact your city hall to find out which court handles this in your state. You could also visit your local law library or check out your state's laws online.

STEP 4: File the necessary papers and pay any filing fees.

STEP 5: Realize that there usually is a publication requirement when doing a name change. You may have to purchase a small ad in a local paper that states you're legally changing your name. This alerts any creditors or claimants against you.

STEP 6: Choose a name that you like and that is relatively easy to spell.

STEP 7: Realize that the court is most likely to approve the name change if you can offer a good reason. A good reason may be to shorten a long name, distance yourself from an abusive family or legalize a performance name that you've been using.

STEP 8: Give copies of the judgment or order you receive from the court to all creditors, licensing bureaus, employers, banks and tax agencies to request that your name be changed in their records.

STEP 9: Know that if you are divorcing, the divorce court can provide for the name change in the divorce judgment.

STEP 10: Recognize that you may also change your child's name using the same procedure, but that there may be an inquiry by the court as to whether both parents agree to this if you're divorced.

Tips & Warnings

Be certain about the name you select, since the court may be unwilling to change names for you too frequently.
In some states, paralegals can prepare the paperwork needed for a name change if you don't want to hire an attorney.

 

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