What Does It Take to Legally Change Your Last Name

If you`re lucky, there`s a DMV representative at the door asking if you have all the documents you need and refusing if you don`t. If you`re unlucky, take a number and wait forever, only to go to the counter and then be turned away because you don`t have the right documents. To obtain a Utah driver`s license or ID card with your new name, visit the Driver`s Licensing Division website. You must provide legal proof of the name change with a government-certified birth certificate, marriage certificate, certified court order (such as a divorce decree or name change order), or other legal documents such as citizenship documents. A: You cannot legally force your ex-spouse to return to his or her old last name. You have the right to keep your last name. “The most important thing to keep in mind about any name change is that it`s a process, not a one-stop shop,” Anna Phipps, vice president of experience at HitchSwitch, told Mental Floss. Your friends may also have trouble adjusting to your new identity, and it may be uncomfortable calling you by the name you just chose. This is obviously just an example of a condition to give you a general idea of what you might need.

Most states have similar requirements, but of course you should confirm this. If you hire a lawyer, you will also pay legal fees. You can also use an online legal service to help you complete the name change application. You may also need to consider other fees, such as: Some common reasons for name changes include marriage, divorce, and other significant life changes. Whatever the reason for a change, you will learn how to legally change your name. We help you manage this sometimes complex process. Keep in mind that there are legal differences between states and you should consider talking to a legal aid lawyer. To get a Social Security card with your new name, visit the Social Security Administration website. If you apply less than 1 year after your previous passport was issued, you need to collect the following: No one likes to be teased because of a name they didn`t choose themselves. If you legally change your name, you have the option to delete a name that you find embarrassing or that you think just doesn`t suit you. Once you have your new name, you need to tell others about it.

Start with a new driver`s license or government ID card and social security card. Once you have a driver`s license and a Social Security card with your new name, you can use them to let others know about your new name. The process of changing your name on your credit cards varies from company to company. For example, American Express has a form on its website (in the Account Services tab) where you can edit your personal information. You will need to upload a supporting document (they will ask for your driver`s license, ID card or passport) showing your new name, and after processing, a new card will be sent to you. Other companies require a certified copy of your marriage certificate to be sent to them in order to process the change. Contact your credit card company directly to find out the best way to issue a card with your new name. If you submit your required forms to the court, the court will schedule a hearing. Putting your personal happiness above the opinions of others can be liberating, and that`s true when it comes to changing your name. However, explaining your name change can be tedious, and some people find it not worth sending an announcement to family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

A: While most names are on the table, there are usually restrictions on your ability to change your name at will. For example, you cannot change your name to avoid creditors or arrests, to mislead, confuse or offend others. Numbers and special characters are generally not allowed for name changes. If your name of choice does not fall into the above categories, double-checking with a lawyer can help ensure that the change is legally valid. Now that you have proof of your marriage, you need to let the government know what name you want to bear. You can apply for a new Social Security card by mail or in person at your local Social Security office. Find the nearest location here. Decide which name you will use professionally and send an email to your colleagues, customers and suppliers when you return from your honeymoon and introduce yourself again with the name you used. This is especially important if your business changes your email address to reflect your new last name. If you don`t change it, you may want to let your colleagues know as well.

To avoid the hassle and embarrassment of sending an official memo stating that you misspelled your own name, check that it looks correct on every form you submit. Be sure to provide your new name to both the Social Security Administration and your employer to ensure that your employer correctly reports your income and that it is properly recorded in Social Security records. You will also need to notify parties such as your employer, post office, voter registration office, doctors` offices, utilities, homeowners or mortgage companies, school or alumni associations, insurance companies, and any airlines with which you have earned reward points or miles. advises The Knot. Most likely, you will have to fill out a large amount of paperwork that coincides with your name change. There is paperwork when you have to file with the courts, and there is paperwork to change your name on your important documents (such as passports or bank accounts). Overall, it can be a lot of work. You also can`t change your name to an intentionally misleading name, such as that of a celebrity. Individuals are prohibited from using a name containing punctuation or numbers, although some courts have allowed the use of periods or the spelling of numbers. You also can`t choose a name that is a racial slur or is considered offensive or intimidating. With your new name and payment information in hand, it`s time to update the payment information for your mortgage or rent and utilities. Most can be easily updated online in your account portal or over the phone, and it should be as simple as entering your new last name and entering your new credit card number or banking instructions.

Talking to a family attorney about your state`s specific rules for a name change can help you prepare for future contingencies. You have to go to the hearing. At the hearing, the judge may ask you questions about your name change application. Name change forms vary from state to state and allow an adult or minor (child) to change their legal name. If an adult has just married or divorced, the applicant can usually use the marriage certificate/license or divorce decree to change the surname at the Social Security Administration and DMV office. If it is a different type of name change, it usually has to be submitted to the court through a petition and published in the local newspaper for a period of time.