How do you change your last name legally?

Answer 1

It depends on which State you are going to be changing your name. Although, the process always starts with the filing of a name change petition in your State and most often at the county court clerk's office where you file, they will provide the instructions to get your name change decree.

Answer 2

It would be the same process as if you wanted to change your last name. You will have to authorize a name change petition at the county court clerk's office and follow the steps that they will provide to you.

Answer 3

It must be done via a court order. A judge must review the request and rule on granting it or not. Every court system usually has a pre-printed form for this procedure which you can follow and submit to the court. Visit your local Clerk of The Court's Office and ask. You can download New Jersey's pre-printed name change forms by going to the web link which is under the related links below.
How to Change Your Last Name

To change your last name you can hire a paralegal to prepare the name change petition forms for you, or you can prepare them yourself. You can download your state's specific forms to petition the court to change your name from a credible legal forms database, like the one I put in the related links below. Once fill in the forms, and follow the filing instructions to file it, then you must appear before the court one time. The court appearance is just to verify you are who you say you are on the form, and during the proceedings you will be told the final answer, whether or not your new name was approved.

You can change your name in the US to anything you want as long as your not changing it for fraudulent reasons. To change your name you first need to obtain your state's specific name change forms. You can download your state's compliant name change forms at the website in the related links below.

Once you have the name change forms that comply with your state's laws and requirements then you need to file the forms. The forms at the website in the related links below come with filling instructions. All you do is follow the filing instructions to petition the court for name change proceedings. Once you've filed the form then you will receive notice of a court date where the judge will let you know whether your new name has been granted or not.

Answer 4

You must petition the court for permission to do so. The Office of the Clerk of Court may have the proper forms available or perhaps can give you a website from which to download them. It's not as simple or as easy as it sounds, since once it is done YOU must send copies of the court order and specific notifications to EVERYONE who has your name on file (e.g.: DMV - IRS - Social Security - and on - and on - and on). It can get a little tiresome and expensive.

Answer 5

Although details of the requirements for a legal name change vary by state, in general the procedure is much the same. In fact, the common law rule technically allows a person legally to change names by usage alone. If the change is for any reason other than divorce or marriage, however, a court order may be required for banks or other institutions to officially accept the new identity.

If it's done after a marriage, often all you will need is your marriage license. Change your name with social security and the DMV first, then use your new IDs to change your name everywhere else.

If changing your name after divorce, simply ask the judge to make the name change part of the divorce decree. The divorce decree can even (usually) be amended later if the name change was originally left out.

If you're changing your name for any other reason, you will probably have to go before a judge and tell him or her your reasons for doing so. As long as you aren't doing it for fraudulent reasons, the judge will probably grant your request. Then you simply use that court order to change your name with social security, the DMV, etc.

Court Reference has all kinds of links for name changes. Where information is available online, Court Reference will link you to your local court's instructions, forms and information about name changes.

Answer 6

The first step in the name change process is to file a name change petition to you local county court clerk's office. From there you will be assigned to make a public announcement, authorize a public announcement affidavit, and eventually have a hearing. After all this you will be given your name change decree.

Answer 7

We can all remember the kid in school that always got teased because of their name. Their parents may have given them an unusual moniker that made them an easy target. As a child, being able to change your name is not something you can do; unless, of course, you can convince a parent to do it for you. As an adult, your options are many.

So how do you change your name?

• Step 1: Make sure that your reasons are valid.

• Step 2: Decide what your new name is going to be. Are you changing only part of your name or are you going to change your entire name?

• Step 3: Decide if you are going to try to do it all on your own or through the court system.

• Step 4: Decide on how much you want to pay, and how fast you want it to be. You may pay a minimal charge through the court system, but it takes longer than you wanted. You can end up paying hundreds of dollars to get it done quickly.

• Step 5: Fill out the appropriate paperwork. Whether you choose to do it online or through the court system, you will need to fill out quite a bit of paperwork. How much paperwork you need to fill out is dependent on how you choose to get your name change done.

• Step 6: Make sure all paperwork is turned in. This may seem like a no brainer, but it is easy to miss something.

• Step 7: Adjust to your new name!

• Step 8: A very important step. Don’t forget to change all of your important documents: accounts, cards, Driver’s license, etc. to reflect your new name.

Once you have your new moniker, you can decide if your choice to change your name was worth it. Your decision to change your name not only will affect your life, but may affect others, like your family, as well. The ramifications may be more than you bargained for.

Answer 8

There are a number of reasons a person may wish to change their name from marriage, divorce or adoption or maybe simply because you just don’t like the name you have been given. If you are considering legally changing your name, you will need to consider the following:

Rules and guidelines must be followed to legally change your name.

• You cannot change your name to a number or symbol such as a Roman Numeral or anything that is intentionally confusing.
• Your name change cannot be trademarked or affect other people’s rights, such as celebrities. For instance, most judges will not allow you to change your name to Barack Obama.
• You also cannot change your name to avoid debts or for any fraudulent purposes or to avoid bankruptcy.
• Curse words and obscene words are generally not recommended. You will not be allowed to change your name to a racial slur or anything that may incite violence.
• When dealing with the name change of a minor, the court will take into consideration the consequences of the name change and the wellbeing of the minor, for those that may want to change a name to something silly intentionally.

In some states you can just use the new name as your own and this automatically makes it your legal name. In most states though, you will need a petition and court order unless you are changing your name through marriage in which a marriage certificate becomes sufficient proof in a name change. You may also need to publish an ad or notice in the newspaper with your new name.

Once you have changed your name, you will need to notify Social Security and receive a new Social Security Card, change your Driver’s License and passport. You may need to notify the post office and IRS as well as any creditors. You will basically need to notify anyone that knows you by your current or old name of the new name.

When you have decided upon a name that you are satisfied with and meets the rules and guidelines with your state, it is usually a simple process to legally change your name. Check with your state offices first for the appropriate paperwork and steps to take.

Answer 9

It is the same process, you must go to your local county clerk's office and get a name change petition, then pay the filing fee and the clerk will guide you through the next steps.

Answer 10

You must petition the court for a legal name change.