How to Legally Change Your Name in California

Weddings come with a desire for most couples to change their lives. You want to be referred by a new sir name to mark the change in status. You do not want people referring you by one name yet your official records and documents give a different one. To avoid this confusion, Legal Name Change should be your next step. The fact that it is referred to as ‘legal’ may sound intimidating. Do not panic. California has made the process of change easy and convenient.

You only need to present a few documents to particular offices and your name will be flipped. It even gets easier when you have an experienced and professional name change agent to handle your change process. This will save you time and resources. By the time you are settling in your new home or status, all your official documents will bear your new name. It helps to know the process to enable you make a better decision on who to handle the process on your behalf and how to go about it.

Provide Your Marriage Certificate

The marriage certificate is the new key to opening the doors of name change in your life. The certificate is used in almost all states in the process of name change. It makes the process of name change easier because you have a genuine reason. The authorities do not have a reason to decline your application.

The marriage must be officiated and solemnized by an authorized person. This could be a church minister or civil registry official. At the civil registry, you apply for the marriage license by appearing in person at the office of the clerk. The two of you must show your ID documents. The clear will require you to fill in sworn statement and application for Legal Name Change.

Requirements for name change will vary slightly from one county to the other. A birth certificate may be required for some counties while others will use your ID document. You need to confirm the requirements for legal change of name from the office of your clerk. Counties also differ in terms of charges for acquisition of the license. Since you do not present the original marriage certificate, you will require a certified copy. You have to request this certified copy from the office concerned.

Name Change at Social Security Office

The state of California is generous on the names you can change into. You could pick the name of your spouse, create a new name from your two names or choose a different name. You will need to register the new name at the Social Security Administration office. Most government offices and private firms use data provided by the social security administration office. It means that any inconsistency between the name you provide and what is at the SSA office will be a cause for alarm. The social security administration office will facilitate a new card at zero cost.
SSA allows you to make the application online. The application is for a new SSA card bearing your new names. This will allow all other organizations and authorities to effect the change. You must provide details in your previous card and those that are to appear on the new card. The order of appearance is important because some of the names will be regarded as ‘first’ ‘middle’ and ‘sir’ names. There are no charges for acquiring a new social security card in California.

Social Security Administration requires you to attach the copy of the certified marriage certificate. For identification purposes, your driver’s license will be required. Other identification documents may be required where the driver’s license does not work.

The process of Legal Name Change gets easier when you realize that you can complete it by mailing the form to the Social Security Administration office. This allows you to make the application from any location. You may also drop the form in person to the local office.

The fact that they require original documents will complicate your life for a while. In case you are using the driving license, you will have to move around for two to three weeks without the license. This is the time it will take for the office to receive your mailed application, process name change and mail them back. Though many people choose to avoid government offices, it could be the most convenient way to complete your process of name change. Locate the nearest office and have your name change process completed. While you get a new social security card, your old number remains. This means that your records in all places that use the SSA card will be carried over.

The change of name at Social Security Administration allows you to proceed with changes in other organizations. It raises suspicion when different names show documents. There are sensitive organizations like financial institutions that will not serve you because of the discrepancies. This is why you should proceed with changes on all other documents and organizations.

Name Change at Department of Motor Vehicle

California Department of Motor Vehicle name change process is what should follow once you have obtained a new social security card. The DMV in California requires you to make an actual visit. This could be hectic since you have no idea when you will be served. However, you can book an appointment to reduce your waiting time and be certain of the time you will be served.

You are required to fill the DL44 form for an ordinary driver while drivers of commercial vehicles fill the DL44C form. The form is then submitted to the department for processing. Since the form is not provided online, you need to pick one from the nearest office or make a call to have your form mailed. You will have to pay for the mailing charges. Each for comes with a unique barcode that is scanned at the DMV.

The DMV requires you to present the certified copy of your marriage certificate. This explains why you were required to get several copies. You will be required to provide your thumb print and also have a photo taken. Many people take this as the chance to update their photos and present more decent ones. Legal Name Change at the DMV will not be processed unless the process is complete at the SSA. The DMV verifies the information you have provided with what is captured at the SSA database. This means that discrepancies will be flagged and the process halted. Your name, date of birth and social security number must be consistent.

When your application is accepted, you are issued with an interim license. The license will be used until your new Driver’s license has been processed. The new card will be mailed to you. It takes up to 60 days to have your card processed and delivered to you. This means that the interim card will be valid for only 60 days. You can always check the status of your application by calling the concerned office. A call will also help resolve any issue that may arise with your application.

Name Change on Your Passport in California

The consistency of names used on your passport and other documents is essential especially in this age of sensitive identity scrutiny. The process of changing your passport name is similar to that which applies to other states. You are required to apply for a new passport.

Making the application in person will see processing on your passport expedited. The application is made at the Department of State Passport Agency. This can be done in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. You will be required to present your old passport, original marriage certificate, and a colored passport photo. The passport renewal application form must also be fully and appropriately filled.

Passport renewal by mail in California is also allowed. Passports that are less than a year old are processed free of charge. Each case is treated differently. However, if there is no reason to delay your application, it should be processed in the shortest time possible.

The process you use for Legal Name Change and the reasons you provide notwithstanding, you have to update the name on different platforms and institutions. This includes banks, credit card providers, insurance, vehicle registries and such other institutions. With the Social Security card and Driver’s license, you can check the institutions that require name change one by one. With an agent to help you with the name change, the process will be easier, faster and stress-free. It will also cost you less and feel smooth regardless of your circumstances. 

How Do I Change My Maiden Name After Divorce?

Most people want to have nothing to do with their spouses after divorce. The common action is to drop the sir name or name you had chosen as a family. It sounds easier to just drop it in your social circles and command people to revert to your old name. This sounds easy, but it will cause problems when there is a discrepancy in your name in official documents. You should therefore Legally change your name After Divorce. This ensures that your official documents capture the new name you have chosen. It will save you from identity struggles.

The process may vary from one county and even one state to the other. Variations will also depend on the uniqueness of your divorce case and the prayers you make to the court. It will also depend on the process you choose to follow in order to achieve the desired results. Here is a guide on changing your name legally after undergoing divorce.

• Make a Prayer in the Divorce Decree

This option is used and approved only when you need to revert to your old name. It means that you had changed your name using the birth certificate. You make a prayer to the judge to declare that you have dropped the name associated with your spouse and reverted to your original name. Once the divorce decree is out, your name will be changed automatically. You will be using the decree to effect changes in other documents and databases. This option can also only apply if the proceedings have not been concluded.

• Amendment to the Decree

There are states that make it easier to Legally change your name After Divorce even if the decree has been released. You are required to make a request to have the decree amended. This process involves the court including a language that you can change your name in a fresh release decree. This process is easier compared to filing an original petition to change the name. The process allows you to use the amended decree to change your name on other databases and official documents.

• File a Petition to Change Your Name

This is the original procedure of changing your name regardless of the circumstances. You will be filing as if divorce is not an issue. This process is lengthy and requires a lot of paper work. You may also be required to appear in court and also present proof documents to support your plea for a name change. In some instance, you will be required to proof your identity and appear in person. Affidavits may also be required as proof of identity. Check whether this procedures and process are required by your state before beginning on it. Consult an experienced name change agent to guide you on the best path and the requirements for an official name change.
The processes indicated above are only meant to kick-start the process of the name change. The decree that emanates from the above process is what you will use to change your name on other platforms. The first stop should be the Social Security Administration office. This is where you will update your personal information and also get a new card bearing your name. It is important to change the name at the social security office because other departments like DMV draw their information from the social security database. In case of discrepancy, your request for services will be denied.

Visit the DMV about 24 hours after updating your information at the social security office. This window period allows information to be updated since the DMV relies on data from the social security office. You cannot get a new DL without appearing at the offices in person. You also have to provide proof documents, which could be the new card or receipt of payment to have the card processed.

Changing Your Name Online After Divorce

There are states and procedures that allow you to make the application online. In most cases, it is forms that are provided online. You can also send requests and make appointments online to make it faster when you visit the office in person.
To Legally change your name After Divorce, it is easier to use the decree. Making a generic application takes time and requires a lot of documentation. With the aid of experienced agencies, you can speed up the process and spend less. The agency does the cueing and running around on your behalf. With guidance from an experienced agency, you will get your new name in a snap. 

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.