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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Name Change Announcements
• Name Change Forms
• Address Labels
• Personalized Stationery

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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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[lalaladulce]

on 9/15/2009 Thank God, for you posting this up! Because, I am in the process of changing my name and this sooo helps me out A LOT! Thank you.

<3.

[chicspandex]

on 4/10/2009 Numerous court cases state that a common law name is a legal name, though tyranocrats refuse to accept them. Most married women use a common law name (i.e. there is no statutory provision to record a name change at marriage and it is not shown on the certificate.) Until recently, Missouri REQUIRED issuance of a driver's licence if a person showed they had been using a common law name, and the Code of Federal Regulations allows them for passports.

[Fantacy]

on 10/3/2008 i have a question?? we recently got married, but im not sure in which order the names should be after taking on his name, is it name + maiden name - husband's last name or name + husband's last name - maiden name???

[milla]

on 5/12/2008 to: Blossom this site gave me the most information http://newlastname.org/fl-florida/legal-name-change
I think it is the standard format for Florida, if anything go to the court house in your district and the clerk should be able to help you out also, i learned you need to get your fingerprinting card from your local police agency, notarized the paper format you will find it on the link go to the bottom you should be able to read your options, and just see what happens. good luck.

[milla]

on 5/12/2008 the information posted my pearlwhite were very helpful. I am in the situation where I am married, and after giving myself about a year to get used to his name I find it ,that i don't like it, its to long compare to mine and 99.9% of people can't pronounce the darn name right much less write the name unless he or she is greek.