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.