Law Check™Information On How to Change My Name

How do I change my name by LAWCHEK™

Download Sample Forms
Sample PETITION and Sample CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION - Sample DECREE
If you are one of the many individuals in the United State who are looking to change your name. You may be doing this because of one of the fallowing reasons. Maybe you are getting Marriage or Divorced. It could be related to a Family Adoption issue, or You are Becoming a U.S. Citizen and are looking for a new start. Maybe you are interested in changing your name because of Personal Issues such as you wanted to have a different name or you had suffered some past experiance with bullying or social harassment. The reasons for a name change may very but the question everyone has is how do you go about legally changing your name. The process in changing your name will depends on the situation. In many states a marriage license document will supply an area for a name change. Locate the correct line and write in your new name. This should take care of the name change, for both men, women and they, depending upon the situation of the marriage. .

As in marriage depending on your state there may be a court paperwork for a Divorce that will also alow a formal proceeding to return to a maiden name or to make a name change. However, it is not always required, so individuals should consult an attorney when dealing with a name change in either a marriage or divorce. If you have questions regarding the paperwork that is involved in marriage or divorce, please consult an attorney. When family's are looking at Adoption this procedure will also require a formal proceeding to provide a legal opportunity to change a child's name and, in some cases, the original birth certificate will be required. This is almost always something that an attorney is needed for in handling an Adoption.

When Individuals desirous of becoming Citizens of the U.S. The process of becoming a U.S. citizion may have requirements to make a name change at that time if there is a desire to do so. That is when the Federal Courts would be involved in a name change when a individual is becoming a United States citizens.
Name changes for any other personal reason will need to be handled by the courts. Remember each state has there own procedures to make a name change. However in most states a state court will oversee the procedure. In general when states use the courts to process a name change that court will require paperwork to change your name. Please consult an attorney before taking the process to change your name. This paperwork for the court will include,Your Birth Certificate, Your current state and federal ID, A written petition to the court for changing your name and in some cases a pre drafted order or decree. Also some states may require public notification in which an advertisement is posted in a local paper showing that individual has applied for an intended name change.
The process will cost money since most states do charge a fee to process the name change paperwork and it can take some time to get the name change done correctly through the courts. Usually it is anywhere from 30 to 120 days to get this process completed.
After you change your name you will need to notify both government and state agencies of your changed name. These agencies are usually the social security administration and your state drivers license departments. This will also include private companies such as Private Corporations Banks, Credit Card Companies, Insurance Companies, Utilities, Landlords to name a few that you will have to notify of your new name.
Finally are there times when the state will not let you change your name. Yes A name change cannot be done for fraudulent purposes. Some examples of instances in which you cannot change your name include but are not limited to the following: you can not change your name to avoid bankruptcy, You can not change your name if you have been convicted of a felony, You can not change your name if you have a lien or a financial judgment filed against you. You can not change your name with the intent to interfere with a corporate trademark or a legitimate business, You can not change your name to another individuals name to deve others for profit such as changing your name to a celebrity. Finally you can not change your name to an obscenity or a racial slur. These restrictions will all be subject to the state in which you live in.
Just as a reminder you should always check with local legal council before taking on the process to change your name. A great place to find an attorney is at Lawsonline.com https://lawsonline.com

Additional Name change Topics.

- Why would a person chose to change their name?
- How does a person go about changing their name?

- How long does it take to change your name?

- Dose it cost anything to change your name?

- What State and local agencies must be notified in a name change?
- Are there any instances when you cannot change your name?

-Do I need to let individuals know that I have changed my name?

Sample Name Change Forms

-Sample Petition To Change Name

- Sample Protected Information Form

- Decree by Court

Glossary

Click here for the 'How Do I Change My Name?' Glossary

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES NOTIFICATIONS

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES NOTIFICATION

Social Security
https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name

IRS Name Change
https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/name-changes-social-security-number-matching-issues

Voter Registration

https://electioncountdown.us/Howtovote.html

Post Office

https://www.marriagenamechange.com/blog/usps-change-address-name/

Other Government Agencies

State Welfare, Child Support, Veteran’s Administration.

NAME CHANGE INFORMATION BY STATE - STATUTES/ CODES AND HELP GUIDES.

Alabama
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/al/
https://eforms.alacourt.gov/media/jtzbncuw/request-to-change-name.pdf

Help Info
https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/resource/request-to-change-name-for-an-adult#:~:text=Probate%20Court%20has%20original%20jurisdiction,person%20filing%20the%20petition)%20resides.
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Alaska
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/az/

Help Info
https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/shcname.htm
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Arizona
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ak/

Help Info
https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change

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Arkansas
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ar/
Help Info
https://a.arlawhelp.org/name-change/name-change
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Help Info
https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/forms/approved-forms/forms-approved-forms-circuit-court/name-change
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Indiana
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/in

Help Info
https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic/name-and-gender-marker-change
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Iowa
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ia/
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/674.pdf

Help Info
https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change#
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Kansas
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ks/

Help Info
https://www.kansasjudicialcouncil.org/legal-forms/adult-name-change
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Kentucky
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ky/

Help Info
https://www.kyjustice.org/topics/individual-rights/name-changes
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Louisiana
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/la/

Help Info
https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLAdultNameChange.pdf
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Maine
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/me/

Help Info
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/forms/pamphlets/Legal%20Name%20Change.doc

https://www.maineprobate.net/forms2019/Name%20Change%20Adult/CN-1%20Petition%20Name%20Change%20Adult.pdf
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Nevada
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NV/

Help Info
https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/name-changes/overview-of-name-changes?enter=1
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New Hampshire
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NH/

Help Info
https://www.courts.nh.gov/self-help/name-changes
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New Jersey
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NJ/

Help Info
https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/name-change/name-change-adults
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New Mexico
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NM/

Help Info
https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SRL_Name_Change.pdf

https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/11/Adult_Name_Change_Instructions.pdf

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New York
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NY/

Help Info
https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/namechange/basics.shtml
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North Carolina
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NC/

Help Info
https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/application-for-adult-name-change

https://guides.lib.unc.edu/legalnamegenderchange/namechange
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North Dakota
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ND/

Help Info
https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/name-change-adult
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Ohio
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/OH/

Help Info
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/change-of-name/14

https://cbsc.osu.edu/documents/name-and-gender-change-guide-adults-feb-2022-1-1-1.pdf

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Oklahoma
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/OK/

Help Info
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/dps/docs/name-change.pdf

https://oklaw.org/resource/adult-name-change-forms
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Oregon
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/OR/

Help Info
https://w
ww.courts.oregon.gov/courts/lane/help/pages/namesexchange.aspx
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Pennsylvania
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/PA/

Help Info
https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/student-services/legal-services/legal-information-students/name-change
Philidelphia
https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/forms/civil/Name-Change-Petition-01-101A.pdf

https://www.patransequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Court-Documents-Packet_Pike.pdf
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Rhode Island
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/RI/

Help Info
https://www.glad.org/issues/id-documents-rhode-island/

https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/PC8.1-change-of-name.pdf
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South Carolina
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/sc/

Help Info
https://sclegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/How-to-Change-Your-Name-SCLegal-Brochure.pdf
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South Dakota
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/sd/

Help Info
https://ujslawhelp.sd.gov/NameChangeAdult.aspx
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Tennessee
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/TN/

Help Info
https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/3826/Name-Changes

https://chanceryclerkandmaster.nashville.gov/wp-content/uploads/Name-Change-Adult-Information-updated-2.11.20.pdf
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Texas
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/TX/

Help Info
https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes#:~:text=Changing%20your%20name%20through%20a,reasons%20against%20the%20public%20interest.
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Utah
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/UT/

Help Info
https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change.html
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Vermont
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/VT/

Help Info
https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes
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Virginia
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/VA/

Help Info
https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/42/change-name-forms
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Washington
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WA/

Help Info
https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=13#:~:text=Name%20Changes%20are%20filed%20in,Name%20Change%20must%20be%20completed.
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West Virginia
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WV/

Help Info
https://legalaidwv.org/legal-information/changing-your-name/
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Wisconsin
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WI/

Help Info
https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/namechange.htm
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Wyoming
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WA/

Help Info
https://equaljustice.wy.gov/legal-help/find-info-by-topic/family-law/name-change/adult-name-change/

https://www.uwyo.edu/studentatty/legal-information-by-topic/name-changes.pdf
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