How to Change Your Name

Posted on May 5th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Sometimes, the name just doesn’t fit the person. You may want to change your name because of a change in marital status, or you just simply don’t like your given birth name. Whatever the reason, there’s a proper procedure in changing your name. Here’s how.

Choose and Get Used to It

Choose your new name carefully and take some time to get used to it. It may be by asking your friends and family on what they think about the new name. You can also try out using your new signature.

Are you getting the name for the right reasons? Give it up if you have fraudulent intent and if your reasons are:

Avoiding bankruptcy by pretending to be another person.
Violating a trademark.
Using obscene words as part of your new name.
Using numbers or symbols other than Roman numerals.

Fill Out the Forms

Look up on which local government office it would be appropriate to apply for a change of name. Not all states have the same rules on changing names, and the same goes for your paperwork.

Remember, changing your name is a legal process, so that means you’ll need to fill out a lot of forms. Typically these include:

A petition for a change of name
A legal backer form
An order granting the change of name
An affidavit of consent (varies in different areas)
An affidavit of service of notification to authorities (applicable to aliens, ex-convicts and lawyers)
A notice of petition to the public

Depending on the mandates of the state, these forms may need to be notarized. Afterward, submit them to the appropriate office/s.

Don’t forget to make copies of the forms for your own records. Once you’re done, all you have to do is wait for the approval. If your petition has not been approved, you may have to go to court to defend and justify your reasons for a name change.

Approved Name Change

Once your petition has been granted, you have to put an ad in the newspaper that will announce your change of name. This is done to inform to the public of your intent and the chance for members of the public to object to it. For example, if you have a debt under your old name, your debtor can object to the name change.

If no member of the public protests your name change, you can fill out the affidavit and give it back to the court clerk. You will then have to wait until you are issued an Order Granting change of Name. This will also be your new ID.

Update Your Records

Take your ID to the following:

The Bureau of Records or Vital Statistics in your birth state
Department of Motor Vehicles
The Social Security Administration

Surrender your old IDs for these agencies. You would then undergo separate processes of getting a new social security card, driver’s license and birth certificate registered under your new name. You may also need to update official documents with your new name, such a deed and properties that you own. Make sure that you also inform your credit card companies, credit bureaus and the IRS of your name change.