11 things to know before legally changing your name

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There'due south a few things you need to know about legally changing your name.
Flickr / Governor Kate Chocolate-brown

People change their names for a variety of reasons.

Whatever your reasons, at that place are a few things you lot should exist enlightened of before you take the plunge. Hither are the most important things to know before irresolute your name.

2. If you're not getting married, you need to consummate a court petition.

Yous'll have to attend a hearing.
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This sounds intimidating, but it'southward really pretty straightforward.

According to LegalZoom , you'll first need to bear witness your residency in your land. Adjacent, you'll need to assemble your supporting evidence: a electric current social security card, birth certificate, driver's license, and photo identification.

You'll then need to file a Petition for Modify of Name . This is basically a form that yous submit to your local court clerk. Information technology includes your current and proposed name, your Social Security number, and sometimes a signed statement that you're non a convicted felon or accept any outstanding warrants. You'll need to sign this form in front of a witness and a notary.

Subsequently filing the form, y'all'll exist scheduled for a hearing . At the hearing, the judge or magistrate will ask you lot questions about your reasons for the name change. In one case the guess signs off, you'll receive a certified re-create of the Order, which you must present to anyone who needs verification of your new proper noun.

3. It's a long process. Be prepared to be patient.

Information technology could take a while.
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Unfortunately, changing your name isn't equally simple as submitting a single grade and waiting for your new social security carte du jour.

"The biggest thing to keep in mind nearly any name modify is that it is a process, rather than a one-stop shop," VP of Feel at HitchSwitch Anna Phipps tells Mental Floss .

While a legal certificate such as a marriage certificate or courtroom granted petition will allow you to modify your name, it won't exist truly official until yous've submitted proper noun change applications with the Social Security Administration, the DMV, and other relevant institutions.

iv. Yous tin can name yourself almost annihilation, with a few important exceptions.

You can't change your proper noun to intentionally mislead people or hibernate from the police.
Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

Country police force governs what yous can name yourself. While y'all tin can name yourself some pretty unique things , there are a few physical rules nearly proper name changes by which you must abide.

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

You're also not immune to modify your proper noun 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.

Yous too tin't option a name that is a racial slur or would exist considered offensive or intimidating.

5. Y'all might have to announce your name change in the newspaper.

Information technology depends on where you live.
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Even if you lot're not getting married, y'all volition usually be required to denote your new name to the world in the form of a paper advertisement.

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

Check with your court clerk regarding the details of ad your new proper name. Some states require you lot to post the proclamation in sure newspapers , while others only require y'all to advertise in the county where yous live. And yeah, y'all'll need to pay a fee to the newspaper to post your name change announcement.

6. It's easier to modify your proper name if you're getting married or divorced.

You lot can skip the court of petition.
Jack Frogg/Shutterstock

Every bit you might have gathered, it's much simpler to change your name if you're getting married or divorced as you don't need to become through the process of a court petition.

If you lot're getting married, all you need to do is show your marriage certificate (with your new name) to all relevant intuitions as proof of your new terminal name, according to The Knot .

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

7. It'due south non cheap to change your name.

Information technology'll likely toll a few hundred dollars.
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According to LegalZoom , yous should be set up to spend at least $100 to $150 to file a proper noun change petition in court, plus additional fees to have your forms notarized.

You'll also probably demand certified copies of your proper noun change petition documents or marriage document to present to various institutions, and then programme on forking over a pretty penny for those duplicates. In some states, you might finish upwards spending up to $450 for your new name.

"All told, irresolute my proper name cost be about three days piece of work and over $300," author and literary agent Kate McKean tells Billfold .

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

Including your credit carte du jour company.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Y'all probably look to need to update your Social Security data and your credit cards, just there are enough of other people who need to know about your new proper noun too.

"A proper name change can take an touch on on your taxes. All the names on your tax return must friction match Social Security Assistants records. A proper name mismatch can delay your refund," according to the Internal Revenue Service .

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

ix. Don't change your proper name just before a big holiday.

Information technology could be an issue.
Justin Sullivan/Getty

If y'all don't travel very much, updating your passport with your new name might accept slipped your heed. Unfortunately, due to long waits for passport renewal, your forgetfulness might consequence in a missed vacation.

"Information technology can take the US State Department vi weeks or more to procedure your application. During this time you won't have a passport, and it could limit your travel options," according to U.S. News.

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

10. Triple-bank check the spelling, so check information technology again.

This is i name yous won't want to misspell.
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The last thing you desire after jumping through countless hoops to change your proper name is to realize you lot misspelled your new moniker.

"It might seem obvious, merely we become several inquiries a year for people needing to make a legal proper noun alter because of a misspelling," Jo-Anne Stayner of I'm a Mrs. Proper name Change Service told  Mental Floss .

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

11. Exist prepared to answer questions from loved ones.

At the stop of the twenty-four hour period, the selection is yours.
The CW

Your loved ones may non empathize your reasons for changing your name, especially if you're opting to let go of a family name or change the birth name your parents gave y'all.

Your friends may besides have trouble adjusting to your new place and may find it bad-mannered to starting time referring to you by your new chosen proper name.

Answer questions as long equally you feel comfortable doing so, but retrieve that your called name is a highly personal affair. The important thing is that your new proper noun makes you happy and reflects an identity that feels right to you.

For more great stories, head to INSIDER'due south homepage .

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