How to Change Your Own Identity

Identity change requires modifying your name on formal documents like passports.

The government does not allow people to change their identities completely except in certain cases, such as if a person must enter the Witness Protection Program. However, the government does allow you to change your identity on a basic level by formally changing your name. Your new name will be linked to your old name, so you can't change your identity to escape creditors. You'll also have the same Social Security Number as before. This option is best if you feel like another name suits you better than your original name. You must change your identity through your state's courts.

Instructions

1. Contact your local county clerk. Ask him what court--civil, superior or probate--handles identity changes. Inquire as to what forms are needed to file for an identity change. These forms are state specific. Obtain the forms from the county clerk's office or the county clerk's or state's website (the county clerk can provide a url).

2. Decide what name to use with your new identity.

3. Fill out the forms you got from the county clerk.

4. File the identity change request forms with the county clerk.

5. Wait for the judge of the court in which you have filed to approve your filing. If one of the reasons for your filing is in question, the judge may request you attend a hearing before the filing is approved.

6. Pick up your approved forms from the county clerk, or have the clerk mail them to you.

7. Publish an advertisement in local newspapers approved by the court that shows your filing has been approved. Check with your county clerk on the requirements for the advertisement content, as some states provide affidavits to publish with your approved forms.

8. Take your published affidavit to the county clerk and file it. Schedule a name change hearing with the county clerk and ask the clerk for the form the judge must sign to formalize your name change. This usually is the Order for Change of Name. Attend your hearing and have the judge sign your form. In some states, the court does not require a hearing and simply sends you a certified copy of your signed order. Take your signed form to the county clerk to get a certified copy if you have a hearing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to change your identity simply because of marriage or divorce, you usually can do everything through the county clerk without having a court hearing and publishing information on the name change. Simply obtain the proper name change forms from the county clerk. You'll still need to change your name on documents like your passport.

References

• California Courts Self Help Center
• People's Law: 6 Easy Steps to Changing Your Name in Court