How to Change Your Middle Name

Getting an official and legal name change may require appearing in front of a judge.

There are plenty of reasons why people would change their names. Some people dislike their birth names. Others may choose to forgo their original middle names when they become married to make their original last names their middle names. Figuring out how to change your name is relatively easy, although you may be required to fill out of a lot of paperwork and provide other documentation depending on which state you reside in. The process will vary slightly state to state; however, no matter where you are, rest assured that a plethora of paperwork and a fee will be involved in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Money for name-change fee
• Paperwork
• Newspaper clippings
• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Ask friends for feedback before you change your name. You may even want to practice writing or signing your proposed new name. Make sure it is the right name for you, because in the end it will not only cost you a lot of your time and hassle with the paperwork and other legal hoops to jump through, but it will also cost money, ranging from less than $100 to $300 or more depending on your locality's laws regarding name changes. In the process of figuring out your new name, make sure you are not infringing on any trademark rights or statutes, as they could be barriers to getting your name changed.

2. Visit your local magistrate's office and grab all of the necessary forms for changing your middle name. While the forms may vary from state to state, some of them will likely be either identical or similar no matter where you live. The forms may include a legal backer, a petition or deed poll for change of name, background check forms, decree changing name, an order to show cause for change of name, a civil case cover sheet, an order granting change of name, a notice of petition to the public, and an affidavit of consent. You will need an additional affidavit if you are an alien or have a criminal history so the appropriate authorities will be notified.

3. Fill out the forms and make copies of them. In case the forms should be misplaced or mishandled by the magistrate, it will be good to have copies on which to fall back. Take your filled-out forms to a notary public to notarize and sign as a witness, which in most cases will be required. If you have a checking account, you will probably have free access to a notary public any of the branch locations of your bank.

4. Submit your paperwork at the magistrate's office. There are a couple of different ways that states and localities go about a name change from this point. Some localities may just send you a letter informing you whether or not the name change has been approved. Other states require you to put advertisements in the local newspaper once a week for four weeks straight so that anyone to whom you may own an outstanding debt can appeal the name change. In some places, creditors can challenge on the contention that you will legally be free from having to pay the debt owed them if you receive a name change.

5. Show up in court, if required, and have your paperwork and affidavits ready to present to the judge. You may also need to prepare a short explanation of why you want to change you name or include, as proof of your process so far, newspaper clippings of the advertisements you published, if that was required.

References

• US Legal Forms: Name Change by State
• NOLO: Name Change FAQ
• Student Legal Service: Want to Change Your Name?

Resources

• Court Info: How to Change Your Name or Your Gender
• New Last Name: The Free Name Change Guide
• Baby Center: How to Change Your Child's Name