Once you`ve legally changed your name, consider changing your name as well: check your state`s requirements by visiting your state government`s website or calling your clerk. If both parents agree and sign the petition, it is similar to the procedure above. Check your district court`s website or talk to the court clerk for the appropriate forms. To legally change your name, you must file a petition with your local Supreme Court. If you are requesting a name change, you must publish your petition and wait at least 30 days before a hearing. Once the court approves your name change application, you must update your name on government-issued ID and other documents. Be sure to change your name on all your personal and legal documents such as wills, deeds, titles, trusts, accounts and powers of attorney. Changing your name on estate planning documents will make it much easier for your heirs in the future. While your heirs may not be disinherited due to a name discrepancy, they may need to go through other steps to show your previous name and true identity before receiving their share.

Adults and children decide to change their names for a variety of reasons. LegalZoom makes it easy to get court approval for your name change. Once issued, you can use your new name for all government and financial documents. Learn more. Some common reasons for name changes include marriage, divorce, and other significant life changes. Whatever the reason for a change, you will learn how to legally change your name. We help you manage this sometimes complex process. Keep in mind that there are legal differences between states and you should consider talking to a legal aid lawyer. If you were born in Washington State and wish to change your birth certificate, send certified copies of all records to the Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709 www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/BirthDeathMarriageandDivorce/CourtOrderedNameChange. While there is no law requiring a name change after marriage, the practice is still common in the United States — and not just for women.

Men are increasingly adopting their wives` surnames, and in the case of same-sex marriages, some couples decide that a surname is beneficial to them, especially if they are children. How quickly your case will be heard depends on the backlog of cases in probate court and family court where your case was submitted. If your case does not require a personal hearing, the case will be referred to the judge once you have returned the proof of service to the court and the return date has passed. a certified copy of your final divorce decree if you changed your name in a divorce If you are a survivor of domestic violence and want the file sealed because of a „well-founded fear“ for safety, you must ask the superior court to change your name and/or your child`s name. The court seals the file if it considers that security justifies sealing. Once sealed, there is no public access to the court records of the name change, even if the court does not approve the name change. Contact your district`s family violence program for help. Find it by calling the Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-800-799-7233.

Name changes cost a few hundred dollars and vary depending on where you sign up. Note: The fear of fraud is real, so don`t be surprised if you get turned away by banks, insurance companies, etc. Fortunately, you have your court-issued certificate to secure yourself, so be sure to present it. Take a deep breath and be patient. There are many reasons why someone might want to change their name, often after a marriage or divorce. The process of legally changing your name usually involves requesting your name change and using your new name. There`s a reason we`re talking about documents before the name change process, and if you`ve ever shown up at the DMV without preparation, you know why. Otherwise, here`s what happens: Sure, we`re talking about a court, not the DMV, but the principle is the same. Save time and learn about the documents you need before you start. These depend on a) your country of residence and b) the reason for your name change. The impact of changing the child`s name on the child`s relationship with each parent A divorce is another opportunity to change your name.

You or your lawyer can simply include the name change application in the divorce application. The court will grant your request for a change of first and/or last name in the final divorce order. The procedure is the same regardless of your gender. You get the idea, don`t you? In many cases, the legal process of changing your name might actually be the easy part. There are three situations where you don`t have to file a complaint in court and pay a fee just to change your name:* There are special rules for changing a child`s name. See below. Most states charge a fee to change your name, amounting to a few hundred dollars. You may also have to pay a small amount to publish a legal opinion in a newspaper. If you don`t have that, you need to save first.

The most important thing you need to do to legally change your name is to use your new name. You can do this by: Changing your name to match your spouse`s last name is one of the most common reasons people want to change their name. This can help some couples feel like a shared family unit and can simplify future cases that require identification, such as filing taxes together. Some forms may not display correctly in your browser. Please download the forms and open them with Acrobat Reader.