Changing my name?

Question

How would I go about changing my name legally? How much would it cost and what are the requirements? Help please!

I am just changing my last name more than likely. I am trying to start over new from a horrid past I have had to go through. I just need answers...

Answer 1

why are you changing your name .. whats wrong with it? mines nicci too .. i like your name! haha

Answer 2

Here is a resource for you! Hope this helps!

In principle, name changing is easy. In practice, it's a pain in the moniker. According to the legal self-help gurus at Nolo, in most U.S. states, you can simply change your name by using a new one. This is legal, but businesses and agencies don't always play along. In these paranoid, post-9/11 days, Nolo advises you get an official court order proclaiming your name change.

Each state has slightly different procedures for legal name changes. The basics involve filling out a form, submitting it to the court, paying a fee, and sometimes publishing the court's final declaration in a newspaper. You probably won't need a lawyer, just a lot of patience.

Many state agencies and legal groups publish name-change information and forms on-line. We found California, Oregon, and Wisconsin, among others. Searching on "name change" plus your state should turn up local details.

Just what can you legally change your name to? Almost anything, as long as you're not doing so with fraudulent intent, such as changing your name to evade a crime. Also, your new name can't interfere with the rights (including copyright) of others, so you can't be Tom Cruise or R2D2. You can't name yourself a numeral or punctuation symbol. Racial slurs or threatening or obscene words aren't allowed either. Otherwise, you're free to be John Smith, John Doe, or John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, if you want.

Answer 3

Girl, talk to a lawyer. This is, after all, a legal procedure; it will have to be done through a court. Why in the world would you come on here and ask a technically specific question like that, when surely you know only a professional can help you?

Answer 4

I suppose you have to call and then go to local court house,submit a "request for name change".Have proper i.d. and maybe a utility bill or something to prove its actually you. I do believe you have to have it done legally with a judge to say it legal.
They should be able to tell you the court cost.
If you are getting divorced and want to just go back to your maiden name.it only cost like $5 and filling out a form which is stamped by a notary.

Answer 5

First or last? for starters you probably have to be over a certain age (otherwise they'd have every kid in the world applying) and I would never recommend doing this. You will probably look back in regret when you mature.
With last names though, I know adults can go to the births,death and marriages department and apply for it. It costs though. They give you a new certificate.

Answer 6

it depends what state your in for the cost... about $150..you go to a probate judge and fill out the paper work and give him the reason why you want to have your name changed...if he okay's the name change... you go to the social security office and present them the legal document of the name change and get a new social security card with the same number, new name.....then you go get your drivers license changed...

Answer 7

you'd have to seek information at your local council's office or to the national passport agency

my friend changed her name last week, i'll see if i can get more info from her!