How To Officially Change Your Last Name

Updated December 31, 2021

Name change forms vary by state and allow an adult or small (kid) to alter their legal name. If an developed has merely been married or divorced, typically the requestor can use the Marriage Document / License or Divorce Decree suitable to change the final proper noun at the Social Security Administration and DMV office. If it is for whatsoever other type of name change and then it usually will demand to exist presented to the court through a petition and to exist published in the local newspaper for a specified time period.

Types

Developed Proper noun Alter – For any adult for a name change after marriage, afterwards divorce, or for whatsoever other reason.

Small (Child) Name Change – For any minor under eighteen (18) years of age.

Name Modify by State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New United mexican states
New York
N Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Due south Carolina
Southward Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
W Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

How to Alter Your Name

People change their name for a diversity of reasons. By far the about common reason people change their proper noun (last proper noun) is due to marriage or divorce. Other reasons include:

Amusement Stage Name
Gender Change
State Witness Programme
Troubled History
Dislike of Birth Name
Restoring a Former Proper noun
Family unit Fallout

The procedure of changing your proper name is not difficult however it requires a boring effort to exercise so. In that location are many steps, which can exist slow at times, that are required to successfully modify your proper noun. Information technology's piece of cake to change your name in social settings, all you accept to practice is introduce yourself with your desired name. It's irresolute all your documents that is the hard part which includes your identification card, social security card, birth document and credit cards. The following are the steps to successfully change your proper noun.

Step i – Clerk of Court

The very first stride in the process of changing your name starts by going to your local county clerks part. At that place, y'all volition find out if y'all need a lawyer for the process, just typically your county clerks part will requite you information pertaining to self-help then you can do the name change on your own without hiring a lawyer. Each state has their own procedure so it'south important to go to your local canton clerks office to gather this information.

What to bring to your local county clerks part?

Yous will need the following:

Valid State Identification Menu
Pay Stub or Utility Bill for Proof of Residency
Social Security Number and Full Name
Money for Information Packets and Forms
A Pen for writing

Step 2 – File a Petition for a Modify of Name

A Petition for a Change of Name course must exist completed. It's the primary document used in order to submit your name change request. This document tin can be mailed or submitted online depending on your state. One time the form and other documents are completed, become to your local county clerks office to have them reviewed. This tin relieve a lot of fourth dimension and trouble if you fabricated a error filling out the form. If completed by mail, brand certain to make 2 copies of the class and send the original. A filing fee is required by most states, notwithstanding in some cases it's possible to use for a fee waiver.

Knowledge Tip: The reason for making copies is considering y'all will need to provide a re-create of the petition for a alter of name form when publishing your new name in the newspaper. Look at Step four for more information.

Pace 3 – Set a Courtroom Date

Once the petition is filed with the county clerk, they will issue you a court engagement which volition allow y'all to present the reason(due south) for changing your proper name. Typically the courtroom will issue the courtroom date in iv-half-dozen weeks from submitting your petition. It may seem like a long await for a rather elementary courtroom hearing. However in most cases, there volition be actions that y'all must consummate before the courtroom hearing and the long wait gives you plenty of time to consummate the necessary actions. This leads united states of america to our adjacent pace.

Step 4 – Publishing Your New Proper noun

One very common affair that most states crave is the requirement to make a publication in your local newspaper of the new proper noun change. Information technology's always a practiced idea to phone call your local paper and ask the price of publication. Making certain that you have enough money to cover the courtroom filing fees and newspaper publication costs is imperative. If required, your land will requite y'all the right certificate which is used in your newspaper publication. You volition also need a copy of your petition for a change of name grade. Once printed in the newspaper, save it for your future court date.

Step 5 – Sign Decree at Court Hearing

Bring all documents to your court hearing. Make it early and exercise not be late. Information technology's your responsibility to observe the correct courtroom room if you do not have an chaser helping you lot through the process. If the judge approves your application, a prescript will be signed which is the most important document because it allows you to change your name on all the almost sensitive documents including your passport, driver's license, birth certificate and social security carte du jour. Once you have all your sensitive documents changed, you lot tin can then become to your banking concern and accept the name of your debit/credit cards changed as well.

Name Change Afterwards Marriage

Full general data about changing your name after union:

State Residency – Not one land requires y'all to be a resident in their land to get married. Some states accept some pocket-size differences only in full general, y'all can marry in any land regardless of where you're from in the The states. In Florida, not only do yous non need to be a resident to get married, you lot do non need to exist a citizen of the United States.
Age Requirement – 18 years of age
Identification – Valid photo ID
Cost – $110-$200 (Varies by State)

For educational purposes, this instructional guide will take you lot from the very first step (appointment 💍) to changing your proper name after marriage.

Step i – Use for a Marriage License

Go to or contact the local county recorder's office in the canton you plan to do the marriage ceremony and/or apply for the union license. A marriage license must be issued before a marriage ceremony takes identify. The county recorder'due south office is the only identify you can apply for a marriage certificate. After applying for a marriage document, the Canton Clerk will and so issue your wedlock license.

To obtain a Matrimony License the following must be true:

Both spouses must apply in person and carry valid ID
A anniversary must be performed before the marriage license expires
Disclose the number of by marriages (if whatever) and of they concluded

Step two – Setup a Union Ceremony

A Marriage Ceremony is inexpensive when washed by the state. Most states charge between $25-$lx dollars when performed past a Marriage Officiant. A Marriage Ceremony must be done inside 30 days to xc days, depending on the state, from the marriage license date of issuance.

Where? – When a union anniversary is washed past the country, information technology'south typically performed in the county clerk's office. Null fancy, just information technology's inexpensive and gets the job done.

The qualified person performing the wedlock anniversary must return the original marriage license to the County Clerks function within the country required timeframe, which is usually inside 10 business days. The county recorder's role will officially process and tape the marriage.

Stride 3 – Asking Certified Re-create

Request a certified re-create of your original marriage license. Information technology comes at a fee only it'southward a must accept if you wish to change your proper name on sensitive documents such as IDs and bank cards.

Social Security Card Proper noun Modify

Toll: Free
Application: Cannot apply for alter online, must do it in person
Course: Fill out and impress Form SS-5

To change your name on a Social Security Carte you will demand to visit a Local SSA Office by inbound your zilch lawmaking. Afterward you lot have institute the office you lot can either visit during operating hours or call and make an appointment.

If y'all were recently married or divorced, bring your license or decree.

Updating your proper name with the Social Security Office will in effect update your name with the IRS.

Passport Name Change

To alter your proper name on a US Passport an applicant volition need to exercise the following:

If applying less than 1 yr after your previous passport was issued you will need to gather the following:

Consummate Form DS-5504 either Online or in Adobe PDF
Your Current Passport
Original Name Modify Certificate – Such as a Marriage License, Divorce Decree, or Certificate signed by the Judge.
New Passport Photo (colored)

In that location is no fee under this circumstance (unless yous want the forms expedited) and all the above documents should be sent to the following address:

National Passport Processing Center
Mail Function Box 90107
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0107

If applying more than 1 year afterwards your previous passport was issued you will need to gather the post-obit:

Complete Form DS-82 either Online or in Adobe PDF
Your Current Passport
Original Name Change Document – Such every bit a Marriage License, Divorce Decree, or Certificate signed by the Judge.
New Passport Photo (colored)
Renewal Fees – For Adults, For Children (minors)

For residents in CA, FL, IL, MN, NY, or TX consummate all the above documents send to the following mailing accost:

National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 640155
Irving, TX 75064-0155

For all other residents transport to the following mailing address:

National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155

FAQs

How much is it to change your proper name?

As it varies by state, changing y'all proper name typically costs under a few hundred dollars. It's after you change your proper noun that the fees add together up with things like a new drivers license, social security card and passport. All of which will cost money to replace. Again, states accuse dissimilar fees to replace IDs and documents.

How long does information technology take to change your proper name?

At a minimum, it will take almost 6 weeks from start to cease. Depending on the state, the procedure to change your proper name could take anywhere from six months to 12 months. For example, in Florida it's required that you must take your fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement for a criminal records bank check and you cannot request a petition to alter your proper name until the court receives the results. Information technology'due south these types of requirements that tin slow down the procedure to change your name.

Can I change your name?

If yous are a legal guardian of a minor under the historic period of xviii it is possible to change his or her name. It's illegal to impersonate the identity of another individual with the intent to change their proper name. The answer to this question is: No, you cannot change the proper noun of another developed.

How to change your showtime proper noun?

Yes, it's merely your commencement proper noun but in order to legally modify information technology yous need to file a petition for name alter in the canton where you alive. However, it'southward typically not needed to change your offset name if you have a formal name like Matthew and you lot want your name to appear as Matt on sensitive documents.

How to change your last name?

At that place are two routes to go when irresolute your last proper noun. The easiest way to modify your last name is through marriage. The other road is by filing a petition to change your name in the county where you are a resident which takes a little longer.

How to change name of driver's license?

Yous either need a certified copy of your original spousal relationship license or an original certified copy of the decree (courtroom order) to change your name.