Document preparation: The first step in a name change is to prepare an application for a change of name and other documents to be submitted to the court. You can research the procedure and prepare these documents yourself, you can use LegalZoom`s online name change service to prepare the documents, or you can hire a lawyer. LegalZoom`s service currently starts at $139; A lawyer may charge a flat fee or an hourly rate to prepare and file documents and appear on your behalf at a name change hearing. If the process seems intimidating, you can pay a professional to do it for you. For about $50, these companies fill out all the different forms, send all the envelopes to the right administrative offices, and send you the complete package. It will cost you a little more money, but will save you the colossal hassle of dealing with all the bureaucracy associated with the name change. Change your birth certificate: If you also want to change your name on your birth certificate, you must bring the certified copy of the name change order to the Bureau of Vital Records or a similar agency in the state where you were born. There is usually a fee to change a birth certificate. Obtain several certified copies of the Order from the Clerk.
There is a fee for certified true copies, but you will need certified true copies of the College to have your official documents changed to your new name. No. Changing a child`s name is a different process and requires different forms. If you want to change your child`s name, use the forms in this toolkit: I want to change my child`s name. To change your name on your voter registration card, notify your district voter in writing. For more information, contact the Texas Secretary of State. The cost of name changes is usually between $50 and over $500, depending on where you live. While anyone can change their name informally using just another, if you want your new name to appear on official documents — your driver`s license, social security card, passport, bank accounts, or birth certificate — you`ll need a court order that legally changes your name.
The procedure for getting this order depends on the state and county you live in — and the cost ranges from $150 to $436. Any adult may apply for a name change in Ohio as long as they are eighteen (18) years of age and have lived in the state for at least one (1) year. The judge will decide if the reason for your name change is legitimate. According to the Ohio Code, the following reasons are grounds for refusing a name change: In addition to the form and your ID, you must provide original copies of the documents showing your new name. This may include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, U.S. naturalization certificate, or court order granting your name change. You will then use official copies of your court order to have your name changed on other important documents. Some of the other places you need to remember to change your name are: Same-sex relationship: If you are a member of a same-sex relationship, there is no law in North Carolina that allows civil partnership or domestic partnership.
However, you can change your name through the court process to reflect your status. Adoption: As an adopted child, you can choose to change your name to identify with your family. You can also do this through legal process described below. You can usually change your name for any reason other than to commit fraud or circumvent the law. If you live in Hawaii, you don`t have to change your name if you got married in the state and your marriage certificate says you`re taking your spouse`s name. You can also waive the process if you are divorced and your divorce decree says you are going back to your maiden name or any other name you had. If you are applying for a name change, legally ask the court to change the name you received at birth, adoption, marriage or even after a divorce. Parents can also request a name change for their minor child. The name change process begins with filing an application with the court in the county where you reside and paying the filing fee. Registration fees vary from state to state and even from county to county. You will not be asked to change your name at the Social Security Administration if you are married or divorced, if you have been involved in a court order, or if you have chosen to do so for any other reason. All you have to do is fill out the Social Security Card Application Form, which you can get online or from your local Social Security office.
To change your Social Security card, take or send a certified copy of the order that changes your name to your local Social Security office. For more information, see: U.S. Social Security Administration. It is your responsibility to modify your official documents to display your new name. If you live a busy life and don`t have time to go through the name change process yourself, you may want to explore a paid name change service, such as: You can change your name at your local probate and family court. Publication notice: Many states require you to publish a notice of name change in a newspaper. These types of communications are published in the “Legal Notice” section. The judge can tell you where to publish your notice, or you can choose. States evaluate a variety of fees to change a name in its total cost to you – so your state may include fees that other states simply overlook (and vice versa). These fees may include: You must pay the newspaper a fee for the publication of your fingerprint.
Costs can vary greatly depending on the newspaper, so it`s wise to look around if you have a choice. Many cities have a legal or business journal that publishes legal opinions at a lower cost than the regular newspaper.
