Information on Legally Changing My Last Name
Whether it's for marriage or you simply want a change, there are ways to legally change your name. There are, however, certain laws and restrictions that apply to the process.
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Bad Words
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Federal law prohibits changing your name to a racial slur or words that may be deemed offensive or threatening. The name may not be intended or likely to incite violence.
Confusion
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Intentionally changing your name to something confusing, such as a question mark or a symbol, is generally illegal. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a man could not use "1069" as his legal name. Instead, they suggested "Ten Sixty-Nine."
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Intent
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You may not change your name with fraudulent or illegal intent. An example would be changing your name in an attempt to avoid paying debt.
Stolen Identity
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You can't take a famous or well-known name with intent to mislead people about your identity.
Marriage
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When changing your last name to a spouse's last name after marriage, you usually can simply start using the new name. The marriage certificate can serve as proof when obtaining new identification.
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References
- Photo Credit name hand image by drawos from Fotolia.com
