How to of the Day: How to Change Your Name

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How to Change Your Name Sep 24th 2012, 20:00 There are several reasons why you might want to change your name, whether it's because of a change in marital status or you simply don't like your birth name. Though laws vary from state to state in the US, the basic process is similar. For other countries, please contact your local citizen's bureau, government advice service or a lawyer for more advice. Edit Steps Changing your name upon marriage Gather your paperwork together. Gather your paperwork together. You'll need your marriage certificate, birth certificate, photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card) and a completed application for a new Social Security card (found at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf). Submit your documents to the Social Security Administration. You can make an appointment to change your name in-person, or you can mail in the appropriate documents. (All original copies will be mailed back to you with a receipt.) Receive your new Social Security card. It should arrive within 10 days of processing (that is, the date shown on your receipt or the date on which you visited an SSA office). Change your name on your driver's license or state ID card. Visit your local DMV with your new Social Security card and your old driver's license or ID card. Change your name on all your other documentation. Here's a short list of what you might consider: Bank accounts Credit cards Leases or mortgages Car title Voter registration Medical offices Post office boxes. Changing your name for any other reason Choose your new name carefully. Practice signing with it. Have a few people close to you call you by that name, and see how you like it. You can change your first name, middle name, last name, or all of the above. Just make sure your new name doesn't imply "fraudulent intent" or is not in the public interest by: Avoiding bankruptcy by pretending to be someone else Violating a trademark Using numbers or symbols (except Roman numerals) Using obscene words. Fill out a petition. Most states require you to fill out a petition (or application) listing your reasons for wanting to change your name. Remember that this will be submitted to a judge, so make sure it explains your reasoning completely and correctly. If you're changing your name after a divorce, contact your divorce lawyer. He or she may be able to help you speed up the process. If you're an immigrant, ex-convict or attorney, you'll also need an affidavit of service of notification to authorities Have your petition notarized or signed by a court clerk. Make copies for your own records. File your petition with your local civil court. Visit your local civil court in person to file the petition with a clerk. He or she will give you a court date, which you should make sure you can attend. Attend your hearing. Most name-change hearings are fairly straightforward. The judge might have a few questions for you, though. Try to answer clearly and honestly. If the judge denies your request, get a copy of the denial and try again. Get a copy of your name change court order. If the judge approves your request, you'll be granted a name change court order, probably given to you by your local civil court clerk. Make a copy for your records. Put an ad in the newspaper announcing your name change (optional). This gives the public a chance to object to your name change if, say, you owe debt under your current name. Some states allow you to simply post in a public place such as a designated bulletin board at the courthouse. Take your court order to the Social Security Administration, or mail in a certified copy. Make sure you also have your birth certificate, photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) and a completed application for a new Social Security card (found at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf). Receive your new Social Security card. You should get your new card in the mail 10 days after your request was processed (either the date you visited SSA in person or the date listed on your receipt). Change your name on your driver's license or state ID. Visit your local DMV with your new Social Security card, your court order, and your old driver's license or state ID. Change your name on all your other documentation. Here's a short list of what you might consider: Bank accounts Credit cards Leases or mortgages Car title Voter registration Medical offices Post office boxes. Edit Video Edit Tips Lawyers, ex-cons and immigrants must notify the state bar, the Criminal Justice System, or the Immigration and Naturalization Services, respectively, in addition to putting an ad in the paper. Changing your name because of a change in marital status is much easier if you are only changing your last name to your spouse's name or taking your maiden name as a middle name. If you are changing your first or middle name to anything other than your maiden name, you will have to take the traditional route and go through the courts. Provisions for this are made in the marriage license as well as in divorce proceedings. Keep your old identification, just in case. Make sure you notify credit card agencies, credit bureaus, and the IRS so that you don't get in trouble. Depending on the laws where you live, if you have already changed your name for reasons other than marriage and divorce you may not be able to change it again. 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