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.