“In total, changing my name took me about three days of work and over $300,” says writer and literary agent Kate McKean Billfold. If you want to change your name for reasons other than those described above, the legal name change process usually involves filing an application with the court first. Maybe you`ve never identified with your old name and just want a fresh start, for example. If your application is accepted, the court will issue an order with your new name. Generally, you can legally change your name to any name you want, although state marriage laws can also provide additional legal advice. However, there are some exceptions. For example, you can`t: Creativity is very personal, and some people may feel limited by the name they receive. Changing your name allows you to get creative and choose something unique that will help you stand out from the crowd, as long as it`s not a name change prohibited by your state. Your friends may also have trouble adjusting to your new identity, and it may be uncomfortable calling you by the name you just chose.
The most important thing you need to do to legally change your name is to use your new name. You can do this by: The last thing you want after jumping through countless hoops to change your name is to realize that you misspelled your new nickname. According to LegalZoom, you should be willing to spend at least $100 to $150 to file a name change application in court, plus additional fees to get your forms notarized. A: You cannot legally force your ex-spouse to return to his or her old last name. You have the right to keep your last name. State law regulates what you can call yourself. While you can call yourself pretty unique things, there are a few concrete rules for name changes that you need to stick to. The problems arise when it comes to government and financial authorities. Since identity theft, credit card fraud, and even fear of terrorist spies are widespread, many financial and government agencies may require legal court documents to prove your identity.
There are certain forms of identification, such as a social security card, birth certificate, and passports, that absolutely require legal name change documents. Marriage and divorce are the most common reasons people change their name, but they can change their name if they want to change their gender identity or change their child`s name. In some cases, you may be asked to report your case. You can change your name at your local probate and family court. Regardless of the reason for the child`s name change, the court usually requires that the standard that the name change is in the best interests of the child. If you hire a lawyer, you will also pay legal fees. You can also use an online legal service to help you complete the name change application. You may also need to consider other fees, such as: Regarding: A: It`s often possible to download your state`s name change forms online, although you usually have to print them out and file them in person in local court. The name change process usually cannot be done entirely online. People change their names for a variety of reasons. Keep in mind, however, that there may be certain restrictions that you can change your name, including, but not limited to, the following: If the name of your choice does not fall into the above categories, a double check with an attorney can ensure that the change is legally valid. If the order can`t be changed, or you don`t want to go through this process, you may need to request a name change, but keep in mind that many states allow you to simply reuse your previous name as long as you do it regularly.
You can then request that it be changed in all your identification and personal records, but only after you have asked the court for a formal and documented change. Changing your name after marriage isn`t complicated, but it`s paper-heavy. Here is a checklist to help you streamline the process. “It may seem obvious, but we receive several requests a year for people who need to change their legal name due to a spelling mistake,” Jo-Anne Stayner of I`m a Mrs.