There are many reasons why someone would like to change their name. Whatever the reason is, choosing the name is the simple part. Everything goes through a legal framework and you need to know a few things for the process of how to change your name.
It might be easy for some while others may find it difficult. So if you’re planning to change any part of your name, the best thing to do is research so that you will have an idea of how things work. Regardless of your reason, here are some of the paperwork and things that you need to consider to avoid any conflicts and problems at a later time.
Life is unpredictable and major changes happen. More often than not, those changes include changing our names. Some people go through the process of legally changing their first or last names and the most common reasons are marriage or divorce. There are also reasons like name change due to gender reassignment while others just don’t sit well with the name their parents gave them.
One thing to consider before you delve into the question of how to change your name is to understand that it is a process. It is not something that you can do with just a snap of a finger. You have to be ready in all aspects most especially on the financial side as it may be costly.
Divorce and marriage are the simplest times for you to change your name.
In most of the states in the US, men and women can easily change their names if they are getting married in a legal process. They have the option to totally change it to their spouse’s surname, create a combination of both their surnames or hyphenate both their last names. In this process, you do not need to file for a court order just like all other kinds of the name change process. You just need to fill out the necessary forms and it’s a whole lot easier.
On the other hand, divorce is a simple type of change, too. If you want to change your name back to your surname before you got married, the judge who’s doing the divorce proceedings can do that for you. In your Divorce Decree or most commonly known as the Decree of Dissolution, your intention to change back to your maiden name must appear. Right after the process, you are free to use your maiden name once more.
Reach out to Social Security if you’re changing your name for marriage.
Before you process anything, contact the Social Security Administration first. You need to fill out all the necessary forms and mail them back to them together with your marriage certificate and identification cards. Right after all these, all you need to do is wait for the confirmation and the documentation of the name change. With the confirmation you got, make sure that the name that is linked with the social security number you have is changed, too.
A court petition is needed for other name change reasons.
On the first few points in this list, we already know that marriage and divorce are the simplest ways on how to change your name. But if you’re planning to change it for other reasons, you need to file a court petition for this. It may sound intimidating but the process is actually straightforward. According to sources, you first need to have proof of your state residency. Afterward, compile all your supporting evidence like your birth certificate, social security card, and identification cards.
Once you got all these documents with you, you can then file a change of name petition. This will be sent to the court clerk in your area. The form will have your name of choice, socials, and your statement proving that you’re requesting the change. After completing all the steps, the final process will be a hearing scheduled. A magistrate or a judge will ask you several questions before granting your request.
You can do it without a lawyer.
For some people, going to a court hearing could be daunting. Filling out legal stuff and doing the process alone may make you feel uneasy but you have to trust us that you can do it yourself. The process has clear and points by point instructions so you won’t get lost along the way. However, if the process is too overwhelming, you can hire a direct lawyer or a company service that will help you with all the work that needs to be done. Of course, there will be a fee for the services you will be getting. The name change process is a separate payment as well.
