How to Legally Change Your Name in Pennsylvania

Legally changing your name can sound a bit daunting, but follow these easy steps and you'll have it done in no time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Money

1. In Pennsylvania you are required to file a Petition for Name Change with your county's Courthouse if you wish you change you or your child's name. A Petition for Name Change is a written document that you produce. It includes your current name, the name you wish to change it to, the reasons for the change, any address you resided at for the past five years, and your current address.

2. Once you've drafted your Petition for Name Change you should take it to the Prothonotary's Office at your county Courthouse. This office will review your Petition and set up a hearing date to have your name change approved by the Court.

3. 30 days prior to your hearing you are to publish your name change with two local newspapers - one being your county's legal journal, and the second being a daily newspaper in your area. This allows for all interested persons to make note of the hearing date and appear at the hearing if they have any lawfulk objections to your name change. Be sure to acquire proof of publication of your name change notice in each of the newspapers. The Judge at your hearing will want to see that you published the notice as required.

4. On the day of your Court hearing all objections will be heard from the audience. The Judge will then approve or deny your name change. If all goes well you will be walking out of your hearing with a new name!

Tips & Warnings

• Many people think you need a lawyer to be able to change your name, but that is not true! This can be done entirely on your own.
• Be prepared to pay a fee to file your Petition for Name Change and to publish the notice in each of the newspapers.
• If you wish to change the name of your child who is under 18, you will need to file a Petition for Name Change on their behalf. If they are over 18 they will need to file it themselves.
• Be sure to get your noticed published 30 days prior to your hearing. If you do not do this on time your trial will be postponed.
• Judges do not have patience for Petitioners who show up to their hearing unprepared. Be sure to have your proof of advertisement with you or you will be sent home with a new hearing date!