eleven things to know before legally changing your name

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There'due south a few things you demand to know about legally changing your proper name.
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People change their names for a variety of reasons.

Any your reasons, there are a few things yous should be aware of before y'all take the plunge. Hither are the most important things to know earlier changing your name.

ii. If you're not getting married, you need to complete a court petition.

You'll have to attend a hearing.
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This sounds intimidating, but it's actually pretty straightforward.

According to LegalZoom , you'll start need to prove your residency in your country. Next, you lot'll need to assemble your supporting evidence: a current social security card, birth document, driver's license, and photograph identification.

You'll then need to file a Petition for Alter of Name . This is basically a form that you submit to your local court clerk. It includes your current and proposed name, your Social Security number, and sometimes a signed statement that you're not a convicted felon or have any outstanding warrants. Y'all'll need to sign this class in front end of a witness and a notary.

After filing the form, you'll be scheduled for a hearing . At the hearing, the judge or magistrate will ask you questions nigh your reasons for the name modify. In one case the estimate signs off, y'all'll receive a certified copy of the Lodge, which you must present to anyone who needs verification of your new proper name.

3. It'due south a long procedure. Be prepared to be patient.

It could take a while.
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Unfortunately, irresolute your name isn't as uncomplicated as submitting a single form and waiting for your new social security carte du jour.

"The biggest matter to keep in mind nigh any proper name change is that it is a process, rather than a one-stop shop," VP of Experience at HitchSwitch Anna Phipps tells Mental Floss .

While a legal certificate such as a wedlock certificate or court granted petition will allow y'all to change your name, it won't be truly official until you've submitted name change applications with the Social Security Administration, the DMV, and other relevant institutions.

iv. You lot tin name yourself nearly anything, with a few of import exceptions.

You tin can't change your name to intentionally mislead people or hibernate from the police.
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State law governs what you tin can name yourself. While you tin name yourself some pretty unique things , in that location are a few concrete rules about name changes by which you must abide.

According to FindLaw , about states prohibit changing your name to escape debt, hide from criminal liability, or to commit a crime.

Y'all're also non allowed to change your name to an intentionally misleading name, such as that of a celebrity. Individuals are prohibited from using a name that includes punctuation or numerals, though some courts have permitted the use of periods or the spelling out of numerals.

Y'all also tin't option a name that is a racial slur or would be considered offensive or intimidating.

5. You might take to announce your name change in the newspaper.

Information technology depends on where you live.
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Even if you're non getting married, you volition unremarkably be required to announce your new name to the world in the form of a newspaper ad.

Every bit LegalZoom explains, "In near states earlier a courtroom will legally change your name, you need to publish notice of your intended change in a paper. This allows your creditors and other interested parties to object to the change. At a minimum, it puts them on find that your name is about to change."

Bank check with your court clerk regarding the details of advertising your new name. Some states crave you to mail service the annunciation in sure newspapers , while others only require you to advertise in the county where you live. And aye, you'll need to pay a fee to the paper to post your proper name change announcement.

half dozen. It'south easier to change your name if you're getting married or divorced.

You can skip the court of petition.
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As you might take gathered, it's much simpler to change your name if you're getting married or divorced equally you lot don't need to go through the process of a court petition.

If you're getting married, all you demand to exercise is testify your spousal relationship document (with your new name) to all relevant intuitions as proof of your new concluding name, according to The Knot .

If you're getting divorced, changing back to your maiden proper noun will usually be covered in the divorce proceedings. Your proper noun change should be reflected in your Prescript of Dissolution, or Divorce Decree, according to the CDC .

7. Information technology's not cheap to change your proper name.

Information technology'll likely price a few hundred dollars.
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According to LegalZoom , you lot should exist ready to spend at to the lowest degree $100 to $150 to file a name modify petition in court, plus additional fees to have your forms notarized.

You'll also probably need certified copies of your name alter petition documents or marriage document to present to various institutions, so program on forking over a pretty penny for those duplicates. In some states, you might terminate up spending up to $450 for your new name.

"All told, changing my proper name cost exist about three days work and over $300," writer and literary agent Kate McKean tells Billfold .

8. Y'all'll have to update a lot of different people and institutions.

Including your credit card company.
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You probably wait to need to update your Social Security data and your credit cards, but there are plenty of other people who need to know about your new name equally well.

"A name change can have an impact on your taxes. All the names on your revenue enhancement render must match Social Security Administration records. A name mismatch can delay your refund," according to the Internal Revenue Service .

You'll likewise demand to inform parties like your employer, the mail office, the voter registration part, doctors' offices, utility companies, landlord or mortgage companies, any school or alumni associations, insurance companies, and whatsoever airlines with which you've accrued advantage points or miles, advises The Knot .

nine. Don't change your name only earlier a big vacation.

It could be an issue.
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If you don't travel very much, updating your passport with your new name might take slipped your mind. Unfortunately, due to long waits for passport renewal, your forgetfulness might result in a missed holiday.

"It can have the US State Department half dozen weeks or more to process your awarding. During this time you lot won't have a passport, and it could limit your travel options," according to U.South. News.

The sooner you apply for a new passport, the sooner you can resume globetrotting.

ten. Triple-check the spelling, and and then check information technology over again.

This is one name you won't desire to misspell.
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The terminal affair y'all want after jumping through endless hoops to change your name is to realize you misspelled your new moniker.

"It might seem obvious, only nosotros get several inquiries a year for people needing to make a legal name change considering of a misspelling," Jo-Anne Stayner of I'm a Mrs. Name Change Service told  Mental Floss .

To avoid the hassle and embarrassment of sending out an official memo that you misspelled your own name, be sure to quadruple-check that it looks right on every course you submit.

11. Be prepared to respond questions from loved ones.

At the end of the day, the option is yours.
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Your loved ones may not understand your reasons for changing your name, especially if you lot're opting to let go of a family name or modify the birth name your parents gave you.

Your friends may as well have trouble adjusting to your new place and may find it bad-mannered to showtime referring to yous by your new chosen proper name.

Answer questions equally long every bit you feel comfy doing so, but call up that your chosen name is a highly personal matter. The important thing is that your new name makes you lot happy and reflects an identity that feels correct to you.

For more great stories, head to INSIDER's homepage .

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