How to Legally Change Your Name

Changing your name is time consuming. If you’re changing it when you marry is a bit easier, but takes plenty of paperwork. To change your name for any other reason is more complicated, but not impossible. The key is to have the correct forms and to submit them in the correct order. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Legally Change Your Name

1. Your marriage license opens the door for a name change. If a wife wants to take her husband’s name, she can use it from the wedding day. However, the wedding certificate takes a few weeks to be filed with the Clerk of the Peace office where you applied for your marriage license. Nothing can be done until it is and when the certificate is filed. The same goes for a divorce. If either reason is why you’re changing your name, skip to Step 4.
2. A legal name change that is not a result of getting married requires a name change form from the county in which you live. Once you file your name change form, the courts will notify you to advertise the change before the court date mandated to finish the process. The notice will appear in the local newspapers under legal notices (check your newspapers for their rates).
3. After it’s advertised for the prescribed number of days, set a court date and go through the formality of telling the court why you want to change your name. These are usually quick and painless--unless someone objects. That’s a whole different how-to.
4. After your name change has been processed and filed, order certified copies of the paperwork from the Clerk of the Peace. You’ll need the certified copy to begin the other official changes.
5. Start at the Social Security office. You’ll need a certified copy of your marriage certificate or your other name change paperwork. The form to change your name and get a new Social Security card is available on the Internet. If you don’t have Internet or printer access, visit your local Social Security office and pick up the forms there. Mail them in or file in person. This will take a few weeks and you will be notified when it’s done and your certified paperwork will be returned to you. Your Social Security Number will not change.
6. Then it’s off to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Your home state will have another form to complete and you will again need certified proof of your change. The forms are again available online or at the local office.
7. Less formal proof of your new identity (your new Social Security card or new license) can be enough to make other changes including those with the bank and the Post Office. Check with debtors and other account holders to find out what they will need to make the change.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use your new name on your tax forms if you have not made your change with the Social Security office. If the name and Social Security Number does not match, processing will get hung up and you may have to pay more taxes.
• Don’t forget to change your passport you already have one. If you’re traveling abroad right away, don’t worry, you’re fine in the immediate future. But as other forms of identification change, your passport must as well. The State Department lays out the specifics on its Website. Changes vary depending on how long you’ve had your passport.