There are many reasons for wanting to change your name. Many people change their names due to marriage or divorce, or due to other personal reasons. The process of changing your name varies by state in the United States. However, the basic steps are very similar no matter where you live. Changing your name after getting married is relatively easy compared to doing it for other reasons. You will still need to fill out proper paperwork, get a new social security card, and change your name on all of your accounts.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Change Your Name When You Get Married
Step 1. Write your new name on your marriage certificate
The paralegal should ask if you want to change your name when you go to court to get your marriage certificate. Make sure your new name is written on your marriage certificate. Otherwise, the process to change it will be more complicated.
- Go to the bottom of this article to read the general method of changing your name if you have already obtained your marriage certificate and it does not include your new name.
- Getting married makes changing your name easier compared to other situations, so think carefully about what you want your permanent name to be. You can use your old last name as a middle name or hyphenate the two last names if you don't want to completely ditch your maiden name.
Step 2. Change your name on your social security card
When you receive your marriage license, you must obtain a new social security card, which will require you to fill out a form and visit a Social Security Administration office or mail it in with the required documents.
- Gather the required documents. You will need your marriage certificate, your birth certificate, a photo ID (from driver's license, passport or state ID card) and the completed application for a new social security card, such application is available online.
- Submit your documents to the Social Security Administration. You can book an appointment to change your name in person, or you can send the appropriate documents by mail. All original copies will be sent to you with a receipt.
- You can find the address of the nearest social security office through a locator on the Social Security Administration website.
- Your new card should arrive within 10 days of the process (that is, from the date shown on the receipt or the date you visited the Social Security Administration office).
Step 3. Change your name on your driver's license or state ID card
Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles with your new social security card and your old driver's license or identification card to receive a new identification card.
Step 4. Change your name in all your documentation
We will provide you with a short list of documentation in which you should consider changing your name:
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- Rentals or mortgages
- Title of ownership of a car
- Voter registration
- Medical institutions
- PO Boxes
- Passport
Step 5. Start using your new name
You will likely have to deal with confusion for the first few months with people who are not aware of your name change.
Start introducing yourself with your new last name, signing checks and other documents with your new last name, and politely asking people to use it when they address you
Method 2 of 3: Change your name for other reasons
Step 1. Choose your new name carefully
Legally changing your name is a serious decision, so make sure you choose a name that you like enough to keep.
- Before you start the process of changing your name, practice signing with the new one and have a few people close to you call you that to make sure you like it.
- You can change your first name, your middle name, your last name, or all of the above.
Step 2. Make sure your new name is legal
The first concern is that your new name does not imply "attempted fraud" (meaning that you are not trying to make a profit by misleading people about your identity), as this will prevent you from being able to legally change your name. However, there are a few reasons why you may be denied a name change, such as the following:
- You avoid bankruptcy by pretending to be someone else.
- Your new name infringes on a trademark (meaning you're trying to call yourself "Chuck E. Cheese" or "Adidas Batman").
- The new name uses numbers or symbols (except Roman numerals).
- The new name includes obscene words.
- Hire an attorney if you have trouble determining whether your name change is legal or if you need legal assistance in the name change process. Legal self-help centers are often available to help with name changes; legal fees can be waived if financial need is demonstrated. Search online to see what legal aid resources are available in your community.
Step 3. Fill out a petition
Most states require you to fill out a petition that explains your reasons for wanting to change your name. Go to the website of your state court or court to obtain the appropriate forms and to find out the requirements in your jurisdiction. The petition will be sent to a judge, so make sure they explain your reasons completely and correctly.
- For example, in California, you must complete forms NC-100, NC-110, NC-120, and CM-010. Other states may have different requirements. For example, in Florida, you must submit to being fingerprinted and you must submit your state and federal criminal history.
- Contact your divorce attorney if you are changing your name because of a divorce. This professional can help you streamline the process, since changing your name for this reason is very common. Sometimes this can be included in the divorce order.
- You may need an affidavit from a law enforcement service, in addition to your petition, if you are an immigrant, former prisoner, or lawyer. This shows that the relevant authorities have been alerted to your proposed name change. For example, attorneys must be licensed under their legal names, so if an attorney changes their name, their license must file for their name change.
Step 4. File your petition with your local civil court
Visit your local civil court to file your petition with a paralegal or file by mail if allowed in your state. Bring two copies of each form. The paralegal will post a "Filed" stamp and return a copy to you for your records. In addition, it will give you a date to go to court, which you must make sure you can attend.
- Check the state court's website to determine if your petition should be filed in person and to determine hours of operation.
- In some jurisdictions, you will need to have a court clerk notarize or sign the petition before filing it. When you're done filing it, take it to court to have it notarized or signed. Similarly, you can have it notarized at a bank or before a notary public.
Step 5. Pay the fee to file the petition
Most states will have a fee for processing the petition. In California, you can expect to pay a total of almost $ 435. In Florida, fees are $ 401.
Step 6. Post your name change
Some states require you to publish your name change for a few weeks in approved newspapers. For example, this gives the public an opportunity to object to your name change if you owe someone something, under your current name.
- The specific amount of time in which you must run your name change announcement varies by state. In California, applicants must post their name change for four consecutive weeks, while in New Mexico only two consecutive weeks are required. Also, some states may not require a publication to be made for a name change.
- Some states allow you to only post in a public place, such as on a bulletin board in court.
Step 7. Attend your hearing
Most name change hearings are straightforward. Answer clearly and honestly the questions the judge asks about the reasons for changing your name. Bring a few copies of the post to verify that you have met the requirement to post the name change if you live in a state where this is required.
- In some states, you will be expected to submit a prepared testimonial explaining your name change.
- Arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before your hearing begins just in case.
- Get a copy of the name change denial and try again if the judge denies your request.
- You will be granted a court order for the name change if the judge approves your request, which may be served by a paralegal from your local civil court. Make a copy for your records.
Step 8. Get a new social security card and a new driver's license
Take your court order to the Social Security Administration or mail a certified copy. Make sure you have your birth certificate, an identification photograph (from driver's license, passport, or state identification document), and a completed application for a new social security card, such an application is available online.
- Your new card should arrive within 10 days of processing your application (from the date shown on the receipt or the date you visited the Social Security Administration office).
- Visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles upon receipt of your new social security card and come with your court order and your old driver's license or old identification card. You will be issued a new ID showing your name change.
Step 9. Change your name in all your documentation
We will provide you with a short list of documentation in which you should consider changing your name:
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- Rentals or mortgages
- Title of ownership of a car
- Voter registration
- Medical institutions
- PO Boxes
- Passport
Step 10. Start using your new name
Start introducing yourself under your new name and signing checks and other documents with it.
Method 3 of 3: Change Your Name and Gender
Step 1. Fill out the relevant court forms
In addition to the steps in method two of this article, most states require a few additional steps if you want to legally change your name and gender. Many states require a name and gender change form in addition to the standard state petition or order for a name change.
- For example, in California, applicants must complete form NCC-200 in addition to the standard form NC-110 to change their name.
- Other documents vary by state. Check your local laws.
Step 2. Have a doctor fill out an affidavit indicating to the court that you have undergone appropriate clinical treatment to change gender
Most states require a licensed physician to provide documentation that you have undergone a gender change. Your doctor can write a notice or use a form provided by the state.
- For example, in California, your doctor can use an attached Physician's Declaration document, which is officially Form NC-210.
- Each state has different requirements for what constitutes gender change. In California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Washington D. C, clinical treatment does not necessarily have to be surgical.
Step 3. Receive a court order
You will have to file your forms in the civil court of your jurisdiction and attend your hearing as in method two of this article. You will receive a court order that allows you to change not only your name, but also your gender on state-issued documents if the judge approves your request.
Step 4. Change your name and gender on legal documents
Each state differs in its perspective on changing names and gender in legal documents. Some states may not allow a gender change on certain documents.
- For example, in California, you don't need a court-ordered gender change to change your driver's license or birth certificate. In other states, such as Ohio, Idaho, and Tennessee, they do not allow gender change on birth certificates. You can find a complete list of instructions for changing gender on your birth certificate according to each state at the following link
- For a federal document, such as a social security card, you must provide a court-ordered name change document in order to be issued a new card. Gender details do not appear on social security cards, but to change your gender filed with the Social Security Administration, you can show a state-issued birth certificate, a letter from a doctor certifying clinical treatment, or a passport. of the United States for ten years that demonstrates an appropriate indication of gender.
- To receive a ten-year United States passport, your ID and passport photograph must show your current appearance, and you must send a letter from the doctor certifying that you have completed your transition.
Advice
- You may not be able to change your name if you have already done so for reasons other than marriage and divorce, although it will depend on the laws where you live.
- Keep your old identification document just in case.
- Changing your name for a change in marital status is much easier if you will only change your last name to that of your spouse or if you will take your maiden name as your middle name. You can take the traditional route of going to court by changing your first or middle names, rather than your maiden name. There are some stipulations for this in the marriage license and in divorce proceedings.
- Each state (and each country) has different legal laws that cover changes to identifying information, which apply to changing names, but can also cover identifying characteristics, such as gender. You should check the local requirements before proceeding with the change of your name.
- Be sure to notify the credit card bureaus, credit bureaus, and the United States Office of Revenue so you don't have legal trouble.