do you have to publically advertise a legal name change?

Answer 1

You don't say where you are. Name changes in the USA are made by application to, and order of, a court -- usually the county court of a state and often on a form provided by that court.

In England, name changes are by "deed poll": http://www.ukdps.co.uk/ -- a document signed as a deed and then filed.

In France and other civil law countries, a notary (a family and propery lawyer, not a "notary public" in US parlance) files an application to the court. Changes of name are discretionary with the court, and in some cases (Switzerland comes to mind) difficult and rare.

The "publicity" given to a name change depends on (1) the country involved and (2) who is watching matters coming before the court. Unless your jurisdiction's law requires you to advertise you don't have to. And you could always move temporarily to another state or country -- even to England -- and unless the change is fraudulent or with intent to deceive, it will probably be recognized everywhere.

Except if you have, or also have, the nationality of a civil-law country: they don't have to recognize a name change because the basis for naming in civil-law countries is (usually) nationality and not domicile (or perhaps residence) as in common-law countries.

Answer 2

Usually - it's generally nothing more than putting a notice in your local paper's classified ads section. Check with a lawyer in your area who can tell you what the local laws are.

Answer 3

I think that if you change your name then you are liable to inform creditors, government agencies, and anyone else that would need to know your new name for personal record reasons.

Answer 4

Yep

Answer 5

i did it and was not required to advertise my name change.

Answer 6

yes