How To Change Your Name In The Us

Updated December 31, 2021

Name change forms vary by state and allow an adult or minor (child) to change their legal proper name. If an adult has only been married or divorced, typically the requestor tin can use the Marriage Certificate / License or Divorce Decree suitable to modify the last proper name at the Social Security Administration and DMV office. If it is for whatsoever other type of name change then information technology normally volition demand to be presented to the court through a petition and to exist published in the local newspaper for a specified fourth dimension period.

Types

Adult Name Modify – For whatsoever adult for a name modify after marriage, after divorce, or for any other reason.

Minor (Child) Name Modify – For whatever minor nether 18 (18) years of historic period.

Proper name Modify by State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
N Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

How to Change Your Name

People change their name for a multifariousness of reasons. Past far the most common reason people change their name (final name) is due to marriage or divorce. Other reasons include:

Amusement Stage Name
Gender Change
Land Witness Plan
Troubled History
Dislike of Nascency Name
Restoring a Former Name
Family Fallout

The process of changing your proper noun is not difficult however it requires a tedious try to do so. There are many steps, which can be deadening at times, that are required to successfully change your proper name. It'due south easy to change your proper noun in social settings, all y'all have to practise is introduce yourself with your desired name. Information technology'south changing all your documents that is the hard part which includes your identification card, social security card, birth certificate and credit cards. The following are the steps to successfully alter your name.

Step i – Clerk of Court

The very first pace in the process of changing your name starts by going to your local county clerks office. At that place, y'all will find out if you need a lawyer for the process, but typically your county clerks office will requite yous information pertaining to self-help so yous tin do the name change on your ain without hiring a lawyer. Each land has their own process so information technology's of import to go to your local county clerks role to gather this information.

What to bring to your local county clerks office?

You will demand the following:

Valid State Identification Carte
Pay Stub or Utility Bill for Proof of Residency
Social Security Number and Full Proper name
Money for Data Packets and Forms
A Pen for writing

Step ii – File a Petition for a Alter of Name

A Petition for a Change of Name class must exist completed. It's the primary document used in gild to submit your name alter request. This document can be mailed or submitted online depending on your state. One time the grade and other documents are completed, go to your local county clerks office to have them reviewed. This can save a lot of time and trouble if you lot made a error filling out the form. If completed past mail, make certain to make two copies of the class and send the original. A filing fee is required by near states, however in some cases it'due south possible to apply for a fee waiver.

Knowledge Tip: The reason for making copies is because you will need to provide a copy of the petition for a alter of name form when publishing your new name in the paper. Look at Step 4 for more than information.

Step 3 – Gear up a Courtroom Engagement

Once the petition is filed with the county clerk, they will issue you a court date which will allow you to nowadays the reason(s) for changing your name. Typically the courtroom volition event the courtroom date in 4-6 weeks from submitting your petition. It may seem similar a long wait for a rather simple court hearing. Still in most cases, there volition be actions that y'all must complete earlier the court hearing and the long wait gives yous plenty of time to complete the necessary actions. This leads u.s.a. to our side by side step.

Step 4 – Publishing Your New Name

Ane very common affair that most states require is the requirement to make a publication in your local newspaper of the new name change. It'south e'er a good idea to call your local newspaper and ask the cost of publication. Making certain that you have enough money to cover the court filing fees and newspaper publication costs is imperative. If required, your state will give you the correct certificate which is used in your paper publication. Yous will also need a copy of your petition for a change of name form. In one case printed in the paper, salvage it for your future court appointment.

Step v – Sign Decree at Court Hearing

Bring all documents to your court hearing. Arrive early on and practise not exist late. It'south your responsibility to find the right court room if y'all do not have an attorney helping you through the process. If the estimate approves your application, a decree will be signed which is the most of import document because it allows you lot to modify your name on all the most sensitive documents including your passport, driver'south license, nativity certificate and social security bill of fare. Once you lot have all your sensitive documents inverse, you can then go to your bank and have the name of your debit/credit cards inverse likewise.

Proper name Change After Marriage

General information nigh changing your proper name afterward marriage:

Land Residency – Not one state requires you to be a resident in their country to get married. Some states take some small differences but in full general, y'all can marry in any country regardless of where yous're from in the United States. In Florida, not simply do you not need to be a resident to get married, you do not need to be a denizen of the United States.
Age Requirement – 18 years of historic period
Identification – Valid photo ID
Cost – $110-$200 (Varies past State)

For educational purposes, this instructional guide will take y'all from the very offset step (appointment 💍) to changing your proper name subsequently matrimony.

Pace 1 – Apply for a Marriage License

Go to or contact the local canton recorder'southward role in the canton you programme to do the matrimony anniversary and/or apply for the marriage license. A marriage license must be issued earlier a spousal relationship ceremony takes place. The county recorder's office is the merely place y'all can employ for a matrimony document. After applying for a union document, the Canton Clerk will then issue your marriage license.

To obtain a Wedlock License the following must be truthful:

Both spouses must utilize in person and behave valid ID
A ceremony must be performed before the marriage license expires
Disclose the number of past marriages (if any) and of they ended

Pace ii – Setup a Marriage Anniversary

A Union Anniversary is inexpensive when done by the state. Most states accuse between $25-$threescore dollars when performed by a Marriage Officiant. A Wedlock Ceremony must be done inside 30 days to 90 days, depending on the state, from the union license date of issuance.

Where? – When a marriage ceremony is washed by the country, it's typically performed in the county clerk's office. Naught fancy, just it'due south cheap and gets the task done.

The qualified person performing the marriage anniversary must return the original marriage license to the County Clerks office inside the state required timeframe, which is usually inside 10 business days. The canton recorder's part will officially process and tape the wedlock.

Pace 3 – Asking Certified Copy

Request a certified copy of your original matrimony license. It comes at a fee simply information technology's a must take if y'all wish to change your name on sensitive documents such equally IDs and bank cards.

Social Security Card Proper name Change

Cost: Free
Application: Cannot apply for change online, must exercise it in person
Form: Make full out and print Form SS-5

To alter your name on a Social Security Carte you volition need to visit a Local SSA Office past entering your zippo lawmaking. Subsequently you have found the office you can either visit during operating hours or call and make an date.

If you were recently married or divorced, bring your license or decree.

Updating your proper noun with the Social Security Office will in effect update your proper name with the IRS.

Passport Name Alter

To change your proper noun on a The states Passport an applicant volition demand to exercise the post-obit:

If applying less than 1 year later on your previous passport was issued y'all volition need to get together the following:

Complete Form DS-5504 either Online or in Adobe PDF
Your Current Passport
Original Name Change Document – Such as a Matrimony License, Divorce Decree, or Certificate signed by the Judge.
New Passport Photo (colored)

There is no fee under this circumstance (unless you want the forms expedited) and all the above documents should be sent to the following address:

National Passport Processing Center
Mail service Office Box 90107
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0107

If applying more than ane twelvemonth after your previous passport was issued y'all will demand to get together the following:

Complete Form DS-82 either Online or in Adobe PDF
Your Current Passport
Original Name Change Certificate – Such as a Marriage License, Divorce Decree, or Certificate signed past the Judge.
New Passport Photo (colored)
Renewal Fees – For Adults, For Children (minors)

For residents in CA, FL, IL, MN, NY, or TX complete all the above documents send to the following mailing address:

National Passport Processing Centre
P.O. Box 640155
Irving, TX 75064-0155

For all other residents ship to the following mailing address:

National Passport Processing Heart
P.O. Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155

FAQs

How much is it to change your proper name?

As it varies by land, irresolute yous name typically costs under a few hundred dollars. Information technology's after you lot change your proper noun that the fees add upward with things like a new drivers license, social security carte du jour and passport. All of which will cost coin to replace. Over again, states charge different fees to replace IDs and documents.

How long does it take to change your name?

At a minimum, it will accept about half-dozen weeks from start to finish. Depending on the country, the procedure to change your name could take anywhere from half-dozen months to 12 months. For example, in Florida it'due south required that yous must have your fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement for a criminal records bank check and you lot cannot request a petition to change your name until the court receives the results. It's these types of requirements that can tedious down the procedure to alter your name.

Can I change your proper name?

If you are a legal guardian of a minor under the age of eighteen it is possible to change his or her name. Information technology's illegal to impersonate the identity of another private with the intent to change their proper noun. The answer to this question is: No, you cannot modify the proper noun of another adult.

How to modify your first name?

Yes, it's just your first name but in social club to legally change it you demand to file a petition for name change in the county where you alive. Notwithstanding, it'south typically non needed to modify your first name if you accept a formal proper name like Matthew and you want your name to appear as Matt on sensitive documents.

How to change your last name?

At that place are ii routes to go when changing your final name. The easiest manner to change your last proper name is through marriage. The other route is past filing a petition to change your name in the county where you are a resident which takes a trivial longer.

How to change name of driver's license?

You either demand a certified copy of your original matrimony license or an original certified copy of the decree (court order) to modify your name.