How Do I Legally Change My First Name?

There is a process involved when you want to legally change your name. This process will apply whether you are changing the first, middle or last name. The process is almost similar in all states. However, a few differences will emerge depending on the circumstances under which you want to change the name. For instance, it is easy if the chance is anchored on your marriage status. With all the papers and justification required, it will be easy to complete the process. If you have criminal or civil cases in court, the process might prove a bit challenging. However, here is a step by step guide on changing your name legally.

Filing a Petition to Change Your Name

You will be required to obtain a petition from the county court. The papers are designed to collect your personal details and allow the court administrator to understand your identity, why you need to change and what you need to change the name to. Beyond the form asking you to provide your identity, it requires you to indicate whether you have active convictions and cases in court. The aim is to certify that the desire to change name is not an attempt to escape legal obligations.

The information given on the petition must be accurate and comprehensive. If the administrators find inconsistencies and errors, your application will be declined or the process will delay as you correct the mistakes. You need to sign the petition and further have it notarized. In most states, police background check is mandatory. You will therefore be required to present a disposition certificate if you have a history of conviction. You can obtain this certificate from the convicting court.

File the petition with the county court clerk. This should be in the county where you live. The court will require you to pay some administrative fees. These fees are determined by what your petition will involve. Complex cases attract higher fees. The fees may also change from one county or state to the other. You will be assigned a case number and given a date for your name change hearing.

It is mandatory to attend court hearing for your name change. The judge uses the opportunity to inquire more about your background and reason for desiring to change your name. The session could last a few minutes if your papers are in order and reasons for changing the name justifiable. The judge will give a ruling, a copy of which will be passed to you by the clerk.

Publishing Your New Name 

There are states that require you to publish your name in the local newspaper. This is meant to alert anyone with an objection. Requirements for publication, including circulation of newspapers and number of times to publish the name will vary from one state to the other. The clerk of the court where you file the petition will provide details on publication. There are instances where publishing the name is risky. The judge will make a ruling on exemption. For instance, if you are a victim of hate crime, rape or witness to a sensitive court case, you will be exempted. The aim is to conceal your identity and protect you from further harm.

The court requires you to return proof of publication after the expiry of the period granted. You will pay for copies of the certified name change order and use it to institute name change on different institutions. You can present the order to the vital records office in your state for processing of the birth certificate under the new name.

Acquiring a New Social Security Card after Name Change

Social Security Administration office requires you to present old identification documents and the order granting change of name. The documents you can present include Driver’s License, old SS card and proof of address, among others. They verify that you are the old owner of the new name. They require two weeks to complete the updating process and issue a new card. The old number is retained as well as previous personal records. Since other institutions refer to Social Security Administration database, they will not find inconsistency in your name or other details. You can them proceed to get a new Driver’s License from the Department of Motor Vehicle, change name in banks, insurance and other institutions.

It might appear hectic to Legally Change Your Name by visiting all the offices and filing petitions. Take a shortcut by engaging professional name change agents who will take up the responsibility. They save you time and allow you to focus on other personal duties yet have your name changed in the shortest time possible. 

What Is the Process For Legally Change Your Name?

There are various reasons to legally change your name.  The most common ones include marriage and divorce but many people also change names for professional reasons. Well, everyone has a right to a name change as long as the reasons behind this big life decision are legal. If you have asked around about how to get it done, you must have come across many views on the same. Many people avoid going ahead with the name change because of the mystery around it.   Whatever the reason behind the name change it is important to gather as much information as you can. It makes the process easier and you gain more confidence to go through with it.’

In this article, you will learn how to go about legally changing your name and how to make things easier for yourself. Read on.

Name Change after Marriage 

• To legally change your name after marriage, you need a marriage certificate. To get this, make sure you indicate the new name on the marriage license which allows the wedding to go ahead. This is the document used to process the marriage certificate and the name used will remain. 
• Once you have the marriage certificate, get certified copies from the county offices. These certified copies will come in handy when applying for new identification documents and sending notifications of the name change.

Name Change After Divorce 

For a name change after divorce, you need a name change order given by the court.  You can include a name change request in your divorce filing to get a name change included in the divorce decree. You can also file a petition for the name change decree after the divorce ruling. You need to file a name change petition in the court and fill a name change form. After a court hearing, the judge will give a name change decree and you need to get certified copies for use when applying for new legal papers.

Name Change for Any Other Reasons 

If you want to change your name for any other reason, you have to file a name change petition in the courts. It is possible to download the required documents for this purpose from your state’s website. In New York, these include a Name Change Petition, Name Change Order, and Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI) and Index Number Application.

You will get an index number after filing the completed forms at the courthouse. In some states, you will need to send out a notification through a local newspaper at this stage. In a few weeks’ time, the court will grant your name change request or decline. If the name change goes through, you get a name change order. Make sure you make certified copies for use in the remaining steps of the name change process.

Apply For a New Identification Documents 

Once you get a marriage certificate or a name change order, you can now start using your new legal name. However, you need new documents including:

1. Social security card: You should visit the Social Security Administration (SSA) website and download the application form (Form SS-5) a new social security card. Provide a certified copy of a marriage certificate/name change order, Proof of identity (old SSD, driver's license, state-issued non-driver's ID card, or US passport) and Proof of citizenship ( US Consular Report of Birth, or Certificate of Citizenship/ Certificate of Naturalization, US birth certificate). 
2. Driver’s license/ vehicle title and registration/ voter registration card: For these documents, you need to personally visit the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You need a marriage certificate/name change order, driver's license, US passport or passport card and a Social Security Card.
3. US passport: For a passport issued less than one year ago, you need to download and complete Form DS-5504 and provide your current passport. To replace an older passport, download and fill Form DS-82. 

Once you get these documents, send out notifications to people and institutions who need to know about your name change including your bank, employer, schools, utility service providers, post office, creditors and debtors, Mortgage Company among others. All your notifications must include certified copies of your marriage certificate or name change order.

To make life easier for yourself, you can use an online name change service that removes all the hassle from the process. These services help to legally change your name with more ease by providing up-to-date and appropriate forms and filling out the forms for you.  They offer tailored name change packages to suit different clients and once you have identified your needs, these experts guide you all the way. Legal name change just got easier and you don’t have to pay through the nose. 

A Complete Guide on How to Legally Change Your Name after Marriage

There are many reasons why you would wish to legally change your name but in all cases, it is important to understand how to go about the process. Major life changes including marriage, divorce, and gender reassignment are just a few of the situations that necessitate a name change. Truth be told, the legal process involved in a name change in the U.S is tedious and millions of people have given up due to the long winding process and the paperwork involved. Luckily, you can now use an online legal name change service to make the process smoother and enjoy peace of mind. This is because most of the situations warranting a legal name change take a huge toll on your normal life. Any assistance to streamline the process thus comes as a Godsend.

A Process Not a One-Step Task

If you are planning to change your name the following steps will help you understand what is required:

Choosing an Appropriate Name

This is the easiest step especially in cases of marriage or divorce.  For most people, this entails adding or dropping a name depending on the situation. You have a right to legally change your name because after all this is one of main things that helps identify you. You can change your name to anything you may want but there are some exceptions:

• You can’t change a name to escape liability or for any other fraudulent activities 
• You can’t be allowed to change a name with intent to mislead.
• A racial slur, offensive term or a name that would incite violence cannot be used.
• No confusing name is allowed for instance one containing numerals and punctuations.

Start Using Your Name

Now that you have picked your name, it is important to start using it in all situations where identification is required. This could include filling out forms and applications.  Tell your family and friends about the name change as this not only makes your name familiar but ensures any further documentation is prepared in your new name.

Find Necessary Materials  and Fill out court Forms

This is where things get tricky for most people who are planning to change their name legally. While different state’s requirements might be different, there are the general documents required and these include:

• Social security card
• Photo ID
• Birth certificate
• Petition for change of name

This process is arduous and in most situations where a name change is necessary, you already have your hands full. Take for instance a name change for marriage or divorce purposes; there is already too much going on in your life and finding the time to fill out required court forms (Petition for Change of Name and Order to Show Cause for Change of Name) is not easy.

If you are struggling with the paper work to change your name for marriage or divorce purposes, try HitchSwitch an online name change service aimed at newlyweds. We take the hassle out of the legal name change process by streamlining it and making it faster.

The court process in the legal name change will cost around $150 to $200 and you will be required to attend a court hearing where a judge reviews your petition. Once this is done, an order is granted to change your name and you will receive a name change decree which approved the name change.

Update Everyone On Your New Name

It is important to notify government agencies including the DMV, Social Security Administration and IRS about your name change.  The court decree comes handy in this case. You should also notify all other institutions including banks, utility companies, loan and mortgage companies, schools, employer, post office, creditors among others.

Once this is done, you can now continue using the new name all the time and in all situations. To legally change your name is not just about adding or dropping a name. The process is arduous and takes a lot of time. This is a good reason to use a reputable online name change service to help your maneuver through this convoluted activity. All you need to do is choose a name change package that suits you and fill a form and these experts will take it up from there. Legal name change need not be a backbreaking affair after all.

Step By Step Procedure on How to Legally Change Your Name

Everyone has a right to change his or her name as long as the reason is not malicious. You may change to acquire a more pleasant sounding one, after marriage, after getting a divorce, etc. However, there are instances when you cannot be allowed to legally change your name.

• To avoid paying debts
• To commit fraud
• To avoid civil obligations like taxes

That said, you now have the freedom to embark on the legal process of changing the name. Here are simple steps that will help you acquire a new identity.

Decide on the Name

When you want to legally change your name, you must present a new one to the registration office. It could be a combination of your names if you are changing to accommodate your spouse. You may also take the name of your spouse in full. Merging two names is also allowed. However, there are restrictions on the names you cannot choose.
A name that connotes a racial slur, is abusive or incites violence cannot be accepted.
A name of a celebrity or prominent personality can only be adopted with a very high threshold to avoid confusion.
The name cannot involve numbers like 6 or 9, or punctuation marks like % or *.
To avoid confusion or having to repeat the process, you must get the spelling of your name right.

Fill Relevant Forms

The reason for name change determines the form you will fill and the requirements to submit. For instance, if you are changing after a divorce, successful petition documents or a decree will be used to initiate the process. If it is after marriage, you marriage license or a certified copy of the certificate will be required. A different form is required when correcting the name on the birth certificate. When changing for your children, you will submit different details and sign a different form.

Get the Documents Required

To change your name, you will be required to prove identity. Each state has a different approach when proving identity. The most common documents and forms you will be required to fill are;

• A Petition to Change Name form
• An order indicate the reason
• Your Social Security Card
• A Photo ID 
• A Birth Certificate

These are appropriate identification documents though they may not be demanded by all states. Furthermore, in a state like California, the processes of gender and name change are combined. This means that you only need to tick a section of the same petition to have both your gender and name changed. Each state has different requirements. Check the requirements in your state and take appropriate action.

File the Petition in the Correct Court

With all the documents required and having filled all the necessary forms, it is time to present your petition to the right court. The clerk will inspect your documents and tell you whether they meet the required criteria or not. The procedure still differs from one state to the other. Here are three examples of differing procedures from one state to the other.

• Texas, and many other states, requires you to present a written application that is notarized. This means that you have to sign in front of a notary. 
• California, and a number of others, require the original petition, fully signed, with two other copies. 
• In several other states you have to publish the intended name in the local newspaper for several weeks before it can be approved. It this happens in your state, it will affect the speed at which your desired name change can be approved.

Pay the Fees Demanded

There is no state that offers name change for free. The standard amount you should expect to pay is between $150 and $200. The fee may go up or down depending on state. California for instance requires an average of $435. There are instances where the name change can be waived. Once you have cleared the issue of fees, you will get a hearing date.

Attend Hearing Date

The hearings are usually short and routine. Carry all your original documents whose copies are filed in court. The information given must be confirmed under oath. Once the judge approves the change, you will get a decree.

You legally change your name once you receive the decree. It is time to change the name in all other official documents. Inform your bank, insurance, utility providers, lawyer, etc to avoid discrepancies. You can now officially use the new name.

Source: https://hitchswitcusa.tumblr.com/post/158963738242/step-by-step-procedure-on-how-to-legally-change

The Process to Legally Change your Name

Each individual has a right to change his or her name as per will. There are a certain rules and laws that must be followed in order to get the new name in action. This article throws light on some of the essential legal processes involved in changing one’s name after marriage, or for any other purposes. 


There are many reasons that might drive the idea of changing one’s name as it exists. The decision to legally change your name is a crucial one and must not be taken in haste. Your name reflects your identity and plays a vital role in your professional as well as day to day life. There are several important steps that must be followed as a part of the process of changing names. Remember, change of name is a huge step and a hasty decision can ruin the same. The whole process of going about the act is simple and very user friendly. Further, you may like to read about the process in some detail and get a fair idea about proceeding in the matter with convenience.

The legal notes to follow while changing names

The first and foremost things to do while applying for a new name is fill out a form at the local government office so that the legal proceedings can begin. Other than that, as an applicant, you will also have to apply for a modified social security card after deciding to change your name. A social security card works as a proof of identity and is very important to have. All the relevant details in the prescribed form have to be filled up and submitted in the local office. All the important details about such forms and the right ways of submission can be found on the government website. After you have your new modified social security card number in hand, you may move ahead with other legal formalities.

The driving license is also something that is very essential and must bear the right name of the user. Therefore, it is essential that you visit your local DMV office in order to get your name changed in their records. It is very pivotal that the government records have your right name as these details can be important in ways more than one. Additionally, travelling is something that everyone likes to do once in a while and almost everyone has a passport for the said purpose. Just like a driver’s license, the passport too must have the correct name on it. Therefore it is the duty of the person changing his name to inform the requisite offices about this big change.

These above mentioned changes must be taken seriously. This is because if the names on them do not match with the name of the person travelling or driving with them, then, it might be a serious issue. Other than that, there are many other government and non-government bodies that must be informed about the change of name; some of these are:

• Post office
• School associations
• Banks
• Insurance agents
• Employers
• Credit card companies
• State taxing authority
• Utility and telephone companies, etc.

Undoubtedly, the legal formalities are essential but there are some non-legal points too that must be remembered while changing one’s name legally.

The non-legal perspective to changing names

Everyone has a right to change their birth name if they do not approve of it for some reason or the other. They can choose the name of their choice but there are some exceptions that must be kept in mind while thinking of a new name. For instance, one cannot pick a name that matches that of a famous personality or celebrity. Such change of names can be very misleading in nature and thus are not allowed. There are some people who choose to change their name to run from their criminal activities and that is strictly prohibited by the law.

A valid reason must be provided to change the name and the government authorities will also conduct a proper background check of the applicant to rule out the above mentioned possibility. Some people wish to hide their illicit activities by changing their name while there are many others who change their name to commit wrongful actions. This kind of name change is strictly not possible and must not be done under any circumstances. A modified name must not contain punctuation marks or some numeric characters as that is a strict no-no. Besides, one cannot choose a new name that offends the society or is obscene in nature. All these mentioned pointers have their individual importance and must not be missed while changing names. 

Overall, the decision to legally change your name is a personal decision but the above points must be kept in mind.

The final call

One has to be totally sure when he or she decides to legally change the name. Some people regard this as a very tricky, time consuming and cumbersome matter but it is not so at all. The applicants can go through the entire process by themselves and do not need the services of a lawyer to do their bidding. However, if some people wish to hire expert help then there are professional service providers for the same. These name change facilitators offer a variety of packages to the customers to take the load off their shoulders.

All applicants can find a lot of useful information about these service providers on the internet. If you decide to legally change your name then it is advisable to do so in a careful manner. Complexities may arise only if one does not follow the legal process or chooses a questionable name. In absence of both the aforementioned possibilities, the entire process of name change is simple and very easy going. The government bodies have worked hard over the years in order to simplify the entire process of changing names so that the applicants face no troubles whatsoever. – Just go for it.

The Name Change Checklist and Techniques

While events like marriage and divorce are the most common reasons why people find the need to change name and prepare a custom name change checklist, but these aren’t the only reasons. People have been reportedly changing their name for honor, career prospects, religious reasons, gender transformation, simplicity of pronunciation, etc.

In short, you can change your name for any reason unless it is has something to do with a fraudulent activity like getting rid of criminal past or cheating money lenders. Both minors and adults have authority to change their name legally, irrespective of their gender. 

The legal process

Let’s check out the three most common techniques to change your name before you start acting on your name change checklist.

• Court order: In most states, a person willing to change egally first needs to get a court order for the same. Once received legal permission from court, the person can start updating in all documents enlisted in their checklist. Remember, rules vary from one state to another. So, do your homework and learn your state’s laws.

• Marriage Certificate: In many states, a marriage certificate is considered as a legal proof of. New brides have to collect their marriage certificate from the local court and get a dozen of its certified copies to begin with process at social security office, banks and other places. Changing name after marriage is much simpler and faster process compared to other cases.

• Self-claimed usage: There are some states where people can start using a new name on own and over time it will be considered their as new legal name. 

Depending on your particular case, legal process can take a few days, months or longer. Every state has its own set of guidelines that the  applicant needs to follow and thus timeline can vary dramatically. To file you need to have a proof about your residency in the particular state you want to apply.

For example, if you want to apply in a New York court, it is imperative that you are a permanent resident of New York State and you have authenticated proof for the same.  If you have shifted in New York about a month ago, you may need to wait for at least 6 month to a year sometime, depending on your state rules, to be eligible for applying.

In some complicated cases such as a minor whose one parent is against this decision, there can be a hearing in the court where both parents have to be present. The judge will listen to both parents and rule out their decision keeping the child’s interest in mind. Not all cases are straightforward and thus procedure time may also vary accordingly.

A Checklist

Once you have changed legally, you will need to update a number or government and private organizations. Below is a checklist of some of the most important documents or accounts you will need to update your new name in. 

Social security card

Employer

Driver’s license & Vehicle registration

Passport

Voter Registration

Bank accounts, Loan accounts & credit cards

Insurance policies (Auto, Home and Health)

Post office

Utility Bills

Memberships, Subscriptions and Clubs

Tax account

Doctors

Professional or business association

Emails, business cards, online accounts

You will need to prepare a custom checklist covering all organizations and documents where it is important to update your new legal name in the records. You may need to visit some places in person and fill out the required forms. Keep the required documents handy and organized throughout this process to save your time and money. 

If you find this scary and need expert advice to guide you throughout your procedure or you want some more assistance that can save a huge amount of time in this process, hire an agency. Such agencies offer various name change packages to fit every applicant’s needs. This will save you a great deal of time and efforts. And the great news is, these packages are really affordable.

So, are you ready with your name change checklist? 

Legal Name Change and Professional Life – Do It Right

It may be difficult to determine whether it is a boon or curse, but it’s a fact that it is really difficult to delete your professional or personal past in this era of internet. Your social media profiles and work profiles on sites like LinkedIn will reveal it all about your life so far. However, when you decide for legal name change, probably because of your recent marriage or divorce event, a serious problem awaits you at the very next corner.

Are you wondering what problem I am referring to? Well, it’s a problem of lost identity and being ghost. All your previous work, achievements, certifications, etc. are credited on your earlier name. And now that you have planned to change legally, you will need to build your identity again with the new name.

Why change?
Some studies reveal that women who have long history of professional career or significant career achievements are less likely to prefer after marriage. But a large number of women prefer to legally change their last name when they get married. When about 77% of new brides taken their spouse’s last name after marriage in the year 1990, about 86% women preferred legal name change after marriage in the year 2011.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/legal-name-change-and-professional-life-do-it-right/

Walking Down an Aisle? Remember to Change Name to Married Name

Thinking of an upcoming wedding or have you recently walked down an aisle? Indeed it is the most beautiful and most precious event in everyone’s life. You choose someone as your life partner and decide to share all your happiness and sorrows with the one. Most of us leave no stone unturned to make this big day of our life remarkably memorable.

In addition to celebrating the occasion with your closed friends and family, there are many other important aspects of getting married. For instance, you will need to decide if you want to change name to married name. Every year a large number of newlywed brides consider changing their last name to their husband’s last name.

It indeed isn’t easy to change name to married name in the real world. You need to update your new married name on a number of documents such as your social security card, driver’s license, banking accounts, passport, etc. You need to pay visit to many government offices and fill up the relevant forms.

If you are handling the name change process on own, you must be ready to invest a good amount of time and efforts to get the whole job done. Professional name change agencies advise new brides to complete the name change process before they depart for their honeymoon.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/walking-down-an-aisle-remember-to-change-name-to-married-name/

Adopt The Right Procedures in Order to Legally Change Your Name

At times, due to certain situations, you want to start fresh in 
life and legally change your name. As soon as this thought 
crosses your mind and you want to pursue it, you need to look at the legal implications and procedures which you need to adopt.

Changing your name is undoubtedly easy if you know the exact process as there are numerous legal measures, which you need to pursue. Along with different reasons that may necessitate you to change name, if you are divorced and want to start fresh in life, you can adopt your new name too.

Generally, you are required to submit a legal application in the court for changing your name legally. Your attorney can file the application to legally change your name. It may cost a lot of money to change your name if you don't know the process and lead to you needing to decide whether the process is worth bothering with. However, you need to think logically and plan properly before you submit the application to legally change your name and go to the concerned authorities.

Source: http://hitchswitch.livejournal.com/3244.htmlhttp://hitchswitch.livejournal.com/3244.html

The Who, Why and How of Legal Name Change

Who all can change their name legally

All the people apply for legal name change can be primarily divided into three categories, or rather groups I would say: Adults, Child (Minor) and Family. Adults, both men and women, can apply for name change. The name change application for children can be filed by parents or guardians. If all members in one family want to change their last name legally, they can file a name change petition as a one unit and once approved, all family members will be able to use the new last name for all of their legal documents.

Why do name change

Different people have different sort of reasons for name change. But here we will take a look at some of the most common reasons why people across America opt for legal name change. Just continue reading.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/11/23/the-who-why-and-how-of-legal-name-change/

A Name Change Checklist You Need to Consider Post Wedding

If you are recently married or divorced, updating your new name on Facebook and other social media sites won’t be enough. There is a huge list of other places where you need to legally change your name. Making a name change checklist of all those places will help you finish the entire name change process in much organized and precise manner.

You can always take a look at the checklist and ensure you aren’t missing out any authority or place where you need to update your last name. In short, a basic checklist will help you keep trace on whom you have notified and whom you haven’t notified about your new name yet.

To help you get started with the legal name change process, here we have shared a complete name change checklist to follow. 

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/10/13/a-name-change-checklist-you-need-to-consider-post-wedding/

Important Guidelines to Draft Your Name Change Checklist

Changing their name is a common practice that all women perform after their marriage. However, there are certain steps to be followed for getting this procedure done. You need to have a list of things required for ensuring that this process works out perfectly.
Name change checklist involves a sequence of easy and inexpensive tasks, as it does not require any lawyer to forward the proceedings. In majority cases, it is seen that the woman takes up her husband’s last name; thus giving up her maiden last name. She can also choose to add her husband’s surname after her full name, this way she can use her husband’s last name without giving up her own. The couple may also decide to settle for an entirely different last name. As long as the intention behind your name change is not fraudulent, you can choose to change to anything you want.

Name change checklist can help you understand some mistakes people commonly make while taking up this procedure.

• Opt for changing the name soon after marriage i.e. even before going to your honeymoon. If you have your tickets booked already and you undertake the process of name change, your identification will not match which may cause issues. So to avoid unnecessary hassles while going for this special holiday, ensure that the name change process is completed as soon as possible.
• Ignoring to notify your employer firm about your new married name is a common problem. The company you are working with should know it well within time, as they will have to amend your payrolls, business cards, nameplates etc. Remember to not take chances at the professional front. Hence, getting things in place and informing authorities needs to be your priority.
• Sometimes people assume that they can adopt a new name by simply changing their documents and that there is no need for a legal procedure. This is a misconception though.
• Forgetting to notify necessary institutions and thereby not amending documents like driver’s license, passport, bank account statements, etc.
• Forgetting to obtain all the certified originals of your marriage certificate

Source: http://hitchswitcusa.tumblr.com/post/147441384907/important-guidelines-to-draft-your-name-change

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Changing Your Name After Marriage

Changing your name after marriage is one of the primary things that will make your changed relationship feel more real and literal. Be it the wife taking her husband’s surname or the other way around, talk on name change is something that rarely escapes marriage discussions. From changing your social and civic identity, to gaining a new name in financial and official records, the process involves plentiful steps and requires a good amount of your time and attention.

Any mistakes in this process might incur financial and time-related costs for couples. To save upon time and effort at a later stage, both partners need to make sure that they don’t take up the process of name change in haste, or without indulging in proper research. Here are certain things that you may expect to come your way when you legally change your name.

Changing your Name in a Haste

More often than not, couples start the process of name change in haste. Among other things, this can have serious repercussions on their travel plans and financial dealings. For instance, since air tickets cost less when booked in advance, booking honeymoon tickets on feasible dates, right after marriage, is one of the first things that couples do as soon as their marriage plans are set in motion. But in most airlines, the name on the ticket cannot be modified once booked. This is also the case with most visa documents if the travel plan includes a visit to another country. But once couples apply for a name change in their respective passports, right after their marriage, their travel plans will obviously be affected. This is because the name printed on the tickets and passport will not match.

Also, while the information on one’s passport is undergoing a change, travelling with old passports will not be possible. To avoid this, waiting to change your name legally after your return from your honeymoon or any other immediate travel, is a wise call and saves upon time and trouble.

Easy Way of Notifying others about Name Change

Though you would probably inform your near and dear ones about your name change either personally or through social media, email, and letters, it is always good to use your new name in the wedding thank you notes. This simple method will help establish your new name firmly in the minds of your friends, family, and acquaintances.

Not Following the Right Order

Not following the right order in the name change process may cause huge losses pertaining to money, time, and efforts. Firstly, it is essential to have a proof of your name change such as a court order and/or your marriage license. The next step is to approach the Social Security Administration for an updated Social Security Card.

Approaching the DMV’s office without an updated Social Security Card will only be a waste of time as it is an essential proof document that is required for changing your driver’s license and other related records. Changing your name with your utility providers and getting the bills in your new name is also something that has to be done before approaching the DMV’s office.

Have Certified Copies of your Marriage License in Hand

The state provides you with a free certified copy of your marriage license at the time of your marriage registration. But it is wise to apply for more copies, at least three, at the same time. It not only saves time as you can apply for updating your name with several agencies simultaneously, but also leads to reduced costs in the long run. Do remember that the costs of gaining these certificates vary in different states; but when applied along with the free copy, the costs incurred for extra copies is lesser than applying for them separately at a later stage.

Having Assumptions about Hyphenated Name Changes

Some couples assume that if the surname of the spouse is taken as a hyphenated name with their existing name, an official name change is not required. This is not true and can lead to problems in future as all official and financial records need to be updated with the new name, even if the change is only a hyphenated addition.

Choosing Names that will be Rejected

Some name change applications may be rejected by the State. Among other reasons, choosing the name of a celebrity for impersonation, or a numeral (except Roman numerals), punctuation marks, symbols, etc. serves to be a non-no. Also, the state finding out that the applicant is trying to evade debts serves to be another common reason that may attract a rejection of the application for name change.

Gathering the Appropriate Materials

While the requirements of each state serving to be different from another, finding these requirements will necessitate your involvement with the state's government website or a short visit to the local courthouse. For instance, if you do not wish to hire the servicers of an agency and wish to go the DIY way, you may like to look for the requisite forms at the information desk of your local courthouse. You may take the help of the clerk of courts.

In case you  would rather go online for facilitating your search, all you need to do is look for the keywords "name change petition form in” <your state>. You search would probably bring up a long list of relevant websites from which you have to select the one that relates to that of your state's government portal. This search will also lead you to the various other documents that you will be requiring for moving forward. In most cases, the request for name changes are effectively handled by a family or probate court, but then, the regulations may vary from one state to the next. The following documents will be essential for the changing your name the legal way.

• Petition for name change
• Order showcasing the cause for name change
• Your Social Security Card
• Birth certificate and marriage license
• A photo ID

Giving a little time and attention to your name change process can save a lot of time and hassles for you. Going by the book will surely ensure a smooth name change approval in the later stages of this process.

All you need to understand about legally changing your name

When you want to change your name, it is a legal process, which does not necessitate presence of a lawyer. You have to legally change your name by following a particular procedure. In case you find it tough to handle your paperwork, it is suggested that you hire services of an expert, but without any doubt this will cost some money. There are many online companies, which give you instructions how to legally change name. So if you are overwhelmed by the though of name change, these companies can be a good option.

People legally change your name after divorce, or for some other reasons. It is not a big deal. Whenever you make up your mind to legally change yourname, you totally let go of your old name. However if you desire to go back to the old name, entire legal process of name change needs to be adopted. You have to follow a set procedure of legal name change prior to using that particular name on legal documents.

What you need to do to change your name?

In order to change a name you have to first pick up a new name. Just make sure you check out all possibilities and you are very comfortable with the name you choose. This is a very big decision, and you should ponder over it prior to reaching to any conclusion. In fact, you should put serious thought into which name you want for yourself. Though this might not be an issues if you are a female getting married, as you obviously will choose your husband's name.

Never ever, try to bypass law by making use of new name without getting consent legally. This will lead to wide array of issues. There is not much effort needed to avail of a new name. You only have you to file petition in court of your state's compliant name change form, which is available at clerk office of your state.

As a matter of fact, legal name change forms are also available online. Once you get hold of the legal name change forms, you have to fill in the blank areas, get hold of a witness, write the date, and put your signature. Finally, you have to notarize your name change form. Do not feel intimidated with name change process.

Once you have filed petition in court to give you new name, you will be given a court date when you can appear before the judge. On this date, your judge will either grant you new name or refuse to do the same. If it is granted, you can use new name on legal documents, for instance on your driver's license, social security card, birth certificate etc.

Complete the easy procedure online

Once you hold a copy of primary identification documents with new name, you can use it to change name on bills as well as bank account. Majority of banks accept judge certified name change forms regardless of the fact that you have not furnished your driver’s license which holds the new name. So go ahead and get your name change post-divorce or otherwise without any problem what so ever. Process is very easy and you will not face any kind of hurdle. The on line medium is best as it saves time and efforts needed for paperwork. So choose a good expert and relax.

Changing Your Name Legally: Few Points to Remember

Changing the name that your parents had thought fit for you years ago can be an uphill task at times. True that it may sound easy now, but once you take the decision to adopt a new identity, you will gradually realize that the process is pretty lengthy with several complications. But that does not mean that you cannot take on a new name if you wish to, whatever the reason(s) might be. With a change in name, you will realize that there are certain important things that you need to change now as well. Read on for what takes place when you decide to legally change your name after marriage, or divorce.

Precaution is better than Cure

To begin with, you will have to change the name on your bank account, passport, driver’s license, voter’s registration, legal will, social security card and title deeds – anything that includes any contract carrying your old name. Before proceeding further, you are thus advised to do your little bit of research regarding the possible problems that may arise in future.

General Procedures to Change your Name

In order to legally change your name, you will have to fill in different forms in court. You will easily get these forms from State government websites. These forms usually ask straightforward questions where you will have to provide a reason behind changing your name. You will be asked to promise that you will not use your new name to commit any criminal offence or escape debt. These same forms are also used to change back names after divorce.

The forms used for this purpose commonly include an order to show cause for the change in name, a petition to change your name legally and also a decree to the same effect. Fill the requirements and carry the form along with the necessary filing fees to the clerk at the court and file it. Usually, a magistrate or a judge will grant your name change after reviewing the case. Sometimes a more formal advertisement of your new name is required by the State, which is fulfilled by posting a notice in the local newspaper. In case you desire to legally change your name after marriage, posting an engagement announcement in the papers is considered a sufficient formal advertisement.

Post-marriage Name Change

Marriage is one of the events that often lead to a change in name - mostly for women and sometimes for the men too. In case of a divorce, you can choose to legally change back to your maiden name if you so desire. However, a marriage license that has your new last name does not mean that you have changed your name officially. This is just the beginning of the process. Endless queues at the motor vehicle bureau and the social security office are eagerly waiting for you! Keep your original marriage license and copies of the same handy before you stand in these lines to get your name changed, legally.

Do you wish to apply for name change after a divorce? The procedure is mostly the same, with a few tweaks in between. 

Ways To Make Your Married Life Happy And Soothing !

So by what method would you be able to keep things energizing in a marriage- -particularly when life assumes control and you have genuine obligations? The key is to not just convey and work through clash in solid ways, yet do things together that are new and energizing. Here are a few approaches to do that, and keep up an upbeat marriage:

• Have a night out once a week. You should do this as it will transform your marriage. You should have fallen into a groove of being folks and specialists who recently traded stories about our days every night, and this will helped you visit new encounters together where you would have the capacity quite recently be "you" once more, and have some good times! If you have ever quarreled upon legally change your name, you might like to interrogate why you did so at the first place. (Note: if contracting a sitter is impossible fiscally, check whether you can swap keeping an eye on an alternate family; then the children get to play and the grown-ups get general breaks for nothing.)

• Try new things—routinely! When you're on your dates, don't simply do likewise things constantly. Go see stand-up comic drama, go on climbs, go horseback riding, see unrecorded music, attempt new and fascinating sustenance, take move classes together. Do things that you haven't done in the recent past! You can even go for legally change your name together. This helps mitigate stretch and weariness in life, and permits you to become together in the meantime.

• Participate effectively in one another's lives. Get included in what your companion is doing, and welcome their support in your life. Your difficulties then get to be imparted encounters, you both profit from the backing, and stressors feel less upsetting. In case you're folks, this incorporates both of you being effectively included in your children's lives, and confronting difficulties as a group. (This sounds like a given, however some of the time updates help.)

• Have More Fun. Once in a while its simply that basic -search out fun, and make it some piece of your relationship. It can be even with legally change your name. This can be as straightforward as keeping up a comical inclination, or can include making certain strides to having a great time all the time. Don't let obligation and anxiety deny you of conjugal fulfillment and fun in life- -you both merit better!

Connections offer sublime profits, however none are without their difficulties. These difficulties can put a strain on a couple, however living up to expectations through them can either reinforce their bond or push them separated, contingent upon how they handle the difficulties they confront. Working through marriage issues in a sound manner can be extremely difficult, particularly in light of the fact that stressors in a marriage can originate from a wide range of sources. Taking after these steps can help you to appreciate life more apart from legally change your name, feel less focused on, and experience more noteworthy levels of conjugal fulfillment. Sounds "win-win", isn't it?