If you don`t travel much, you may have missed updating your passport with your new name. Unfortunately, your forgetfulness can lead to a missed vacation due to the long wait times for passport renewal. If you decide to change your last name when you get married, you don`t need a court order. Simply write your new last name on your marriage certificate and show your marriage certificate (without a license) at places like the DMV, your bank, and the Social Security administration as proof of your new last name. In most states, you`ll have to pay a fee (typically $150 to $200) to file your name change application in court. It also costs a small amount of money to have the forms notarized. And if you get married, you may want to pay for additional certified copies of your marriage certificate that you can use as proof of your new last name. Finally, transgender people who undergo a sex change should exercise caution when changing their name with their health insurance company to avoid confusion and ensure coverage. Insurance companies, for example, will not cover a hysterectomy for legal men. A request for a name change can be made simply because a person does not like their name as it was given at birth. perhaps they would prefer something more unique than Britney or Ashley or something less unique than a self-spun name that combines the names of the parents.

While it`s important to let people know about your new name, it can lead to logistical problems if you do it too early. “Wait until you have your official documents (court documents, marriage certificate, divorce decree) in hand before you start changing your name in general – you`ll save a lot of time that way,” says Stayner. Filling out a name change petition can be quite easy. However, if you feel overwhelmed when navigating the name change process yourself, consider outside help. Companies like LegalZoom offer packages that streamline the name change process and provide you with the paperwork you need to fill out for your state. If you divorce, the return to your maiden name is usually dealt with in divorce proceedings. Your name change should be reflected in your dissolution judgment or divorce decree, according to the CDC. You must ask the New York State Supreme Court to change your name. To do this, you must complete and submit these court forms: Name change forms vary by state and allow an adult or minor (child) to change their legal name. If an adult has just been married or divorced, the applicant can usually use the marriage certificate/license or divorce decree, which is suitable for changing the surname at the Social Security Administration and DMV office.

If it is another type of name change, it usually has to be submitted to the court through a petition and published in the local newspaper for a while. As LegalZoom explains, “In most states, before a court legally changes your name, you must publish a notice of your planned change in a newspaper. This allows your creditors and other interested parties to object to the change. At the very least, they are informed that your name will change. “A checklist of government agencies and financial institutions to inform your new name Jo-Anne Stayner of I`m a Mrs. Name Change Service recommends that people who legally change their name make sure they are 100% sure of the spelling and format of their new name.” It may seem obvious, but we receive several requests a year for people who need to change their legal name due to a spelling mistake. Whether because of a recent religious conversion or simply in honor of a person`s religious deity, name changes for religious reasons are quite common; Take, for example, Steve Kreuscher, who changed his name to In God We Trust to honor God`s help in difficult times. You also can`t choose a name that is a racist slur or that is considered offensive or intimidating.

In New York, you can change your name without going to court. You can simply start using your new name. However, it may be best to ask a court to change your name. Most government agencies or companies (such as the DMV, Social Security Administration, and airlines) will not accept your new name without a court order. “A name change can affect your taxes. All names on your tax return must match the records of the Social Security Administration. A name discrepancy can delay your refund,” according to the Internal Revenue Service. Marriage and divorce are by far the most common reasons why people change their name. In general, if you change your name after the wedding, a marriage certificate is the only thing you need. A divorce decree is all you need to change your name again after the divorce. If you have difficulty with any of these entities when you inform them of your legal name change, remind them of your right to do so and offer them a copy of the court order.

Talk to a supervisor if necessary. Keep in mind that many financial institutions and creditors will hesitate for fear of identity theft and fraud. Be patient and keep using your new name. At some point, it will prevail permanently. In addition to your friends and family members, here are some of the entities you must notify once you have legally changed your name: The qualified person performing the marriage must return the original marriage license to the county clerks` office within the time limit prescribed by the state, which is usually within 10 business days. The District Clerk`s office will process and formally register the marriage. 4. Replace the child`s last name with the mother`s or father`s last name If you update your name at the Social Security office, your name will be updated at the IRS. A very common thing that most states require is the requirement to publish in your local newspaper the new name change.

It`s always a good idea to call your local newspaper and inquire about the cost of publishing. Make sure you have enough money to cover legal costs and the cost of publishing newspapers. If necessary, your report will provide you with the correct document to use in your journal publication. You will also need a copy of your name change request. Once it is printed in the newspaper, keep it for your future hearing date. People legally change their first name, middle name or last name for a variety of reasons: big changes in life – getting married, divorcing or undergoing a gender change – could catalyze a name change, or people might simply hate the name they were born with. It became increasingly popular for a husband to adopt his wife`s surname, but the process was only simplified in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and North Dakota; In these states, the name change process is the same as for a woman who takes her husband`s surname at marriage, but in other cases, more paperwork is needed. You will then need to submit a name change request.

It is essentially a form that you present to your local clerk. It includes your current and suggested name, your Social Security number, and sometimes a signed statement that you are not a convicted criminal or have no pending warrant. You must sign this form in front of a witness and a notary. To avoid the hassle and embarrassment of sending an official memo in which you misspelled your own name, you should check four times to make sure it looks good on every form you submit. When you get married, according to The Knot, all you have to do is show your marriage certificate (with your new name) to all relevant intuitions as proof of your new surname. If you`re considering changing a legal name, here are seven things you need to know. While it may seem daunting to appear in court or fill out legal paperwork, you don`t need to hire a lawyer to change your name. For educational purposes, this guide takes you from the first step (engagement 💍) to the name change after marriage.

And if you want to get a divorce and legally change your name to your maiden name, you can usually ask the judge to take care of it during the divorce process.