Legally Changing Your Identity

Video Transcript

"For whatever reason you are not satisfied with the name that was given you at birth. That is the name that's on your birth certificate and you decided you want to change your name. Hello, I'm Robert Todd and I'm here to answer how do you change your identity. Well, this is going to vary from state to state so perhaps the first place to look is what does your particular state require for a name change. Well it varies from state to state generally there is an application process and it can either be done online or at the county courthouse to start the process and generally speaking it requires you to give your current name, your current address and current information about you. Then you either do a posting outside the courthouse giving everyone notice that you're intending to change your name or you do a publication in a local newspaper that has an audience of a certain number of people which again sets forth that you are intending to change your name and after this process by paying a filing fee and filling out the appropriate paperwork, your name is changed. The important thing to remember is you can't change your name to avoid criminal process and you can't change your name for fraudulent reasons. I'm Robert Todd and thank you for watching."