What To Do After Changing Your Name

No affair your reasons for wanting to change your proper name, find out how to do so here.

Whether you simply don't like your birth name or want to revise it after union, divorce, or gender change, the procedure of legally changing your name is usually pretty straightforward. The procedure you must follow, however, differs depending on your state's laws and why you lot want the alter. It'southward important to be enlightened of any restrictions your state imposes on the type of proper name modify you seek, to retain proof of your onetime name, and to ensure that your financial and other records are correct later the alter.

What follows are some basic considerations regardinghow to modify your namein each of the most likely categories:

Modify Name Because of Personal Preference

If you lot want to change your name for reasons other than those related to marriage or divorce, the legal name change process commonly involves first filing a petition with the court. Yous may likewise accept to nourish a hearing and show crusade for your name modify asking. If your petition is granted, the court volition enter a decree with your new proper name.

Know, however, that there may exist some restrictions on what y'all can change your name to, including but not limited to the following:

Changing your name with fraudulent intent, such as to avoid creditors or arrest
Changing to a famous person'southward proper noun with the intent to mislead
Changing your name to a disruptive ane as divers by state law, which may include names with numbers, for example
Changing your name to include a racial slur or "fighting words" (threatening, obscene and/or inciting violence, as divers by state law).

Change Name After Spousal relationship

If you have gotten married and would like to alter your last name, the procedure is a bit different than if you simply desire a new name.

Start, you exercise not generally need to file a petition with the court. Instead, you must submit a certified copy of your spousal relationship certificate (in long form if bachelor) to the Social Security Assistants (SSA) along with Form SS-v, available on the SSA'southward website, and other proof of your identity and citizenship or lawful immigration status (such as passport or commuter'south license).

You lot may then continue to change your name on other documents such every bit your commuter'southward license with the Section of Motor Vehicles and your passport with the U.S. Department of State.

Note that some states have different provisions for anyone other than a woman taking her husband'southward surname after matrimony (including hyphenating), and in those cases, individuals often take to follow the process outlined above for name change considering of personal preference.

Change Proper name Later Divorce

If you lot would like to reclaim your maiden proper name afterward divorce, in most states you can request this during divorce proceedings; the judge tin can then enter an lodge restoring your former name. You lot may need a copy of the order as proof of the modify to then revert to your former name elsewhere such equally on your social security menu and driver's license.

If your divorce is already final and didn't include such an social club, it may exist possible to have the original lodge amended to reflect your desire to modify your name back, though this varies past state. In this case, y'all would only file a petition with the courtroom to modify your divorce decree.

If the order tin't be changed or if you don't want to go through that process, you may be required to file a petition for name change, but keep in mind that many states allow yous to simply brainstorm using your onetime proper name once more so long as you practice then consistently. Y'all may then be able to asking that information technology be changed on all your identification and personal records.

You should always keep proof of your original name (such every bit a nascency document) in case you come across whatsoever difficulties with using it again.

Alter Name Later on Gender Change

About states currently do not have special provisions for those wishing to modify names later on a gender alter, so this state of affairs would usually fall under the first scenario in a higher place.

Online Name Changes

Note that it is oftentimes possible to download your land'due south name change forms online, though you lot usually have to print them out and file them in person at the local courthouse.

Terminal Steps in Changing Your Name

Once you have changed your proper noun legally, remember that you should also change your name on bank and other financial accounts, credit cards, utility bills, and other personal records as well.

Changing your name for personal reasons? Create county-specific legal name alter documents online to file at your local courthouse.