Name Change
Pundt Law Office
May 01, 2025
If you are one of the many individuals in the United State who are looking to change your name. You may be doing this because of one of the fallowing reasons. Maybe you are getting Marriage or Divorced. It could be related to a Family Adoption issue, or You are Becoming a U.S. Citizen and are looking for a new start. Maybe you are interested in changing your name because of Personal Issues such as you wanted to have a different name or you had suffered some past experiance with bullying or social harassment. The reasons for a name change may very but the question everyone has is how do you go about legally changing your name. The process in changing your name will depends on the situation. In many states a marriage license document will supply an area for a name change. Locate the correct line and write in your new name. This should take care of the name change, for both men, women and they, depending upon the situation of the marriage. .
As in marriage depending on your state there may be a court paperwork for a Divorce that will also alow a formal proceeding to return to a maiden name or to make a name change. However, it is not always required, so individuals should consult an attorney when dealing with a name change in either a marriage or divorce. If you have questions regarding the paperwork that is involved in marriage or divorce, please consult an attorney. When family's are looking at Adoption this procedure will also require a formal proceeding to provide a legal opportunity to change a child's name and, in some cases, the original birth certificate will be required. This is almost always something that an attorney is needed for in handling an Adoption.
When Individuals desirous of becoming Citizens of the U.S. The process of becoming a U.S. citizen may have requirements to make a name change at that time if there is a desire to do so. That is when the Federal Courts would be involved in a name change when a individual is becoming a United States citizens.Name changes for any other personal reason will need to be handled by the courts. Remember each state has there own procedures to make a name change. However in most states a state court will oversee the procedure. In general when states use the courts to process a name change that court will require paperwork to change your name. Please consult an attorney before taking the process to change your name. This paperwork for the court will include,Your Birth Certificate, Your current state and federal ID, A written petition to the court for changing your name and in some cases a pre drafted order or decree. Also some states may require public notification in which an advertisement is posted in a local paper showing that individual has applied for an intended name change.
The process will cost money since most states do charge a fee to process the name change paperwork and it can take some time to get the name change done correctly through the courts. Usually it is anywhere from 30 to 120 days to get this process completed.After you change your name you will need to notify both government and state agencies of your changed name. These agencies are usually the social security administration and your state drivers license departments. This will also include private companies such as Private Corporations Banks, Credit Card Companies, Insurance Companies, Utilities, Landlords to name a few that you will have to notify of your new name.
Finally are there times when the state will not let you change your name. Yes A name change cannot be done for fraudulent purposes. Some examples of instances in which you cannot change your name include but are not limited to the following: you can not change your name to avoid bankruptcy, You can not change your name if you have been convicted of a felony, You can not change your name if you have a lien or a financial judgment filed against you. You can not change your name with the intent to interfere with a corporate trademark or a legitimate business, You can not change your name to another individuals name to deve others for profit such as changing your name to a celebrity. Finally you can not change your name to an obscenity or a racial slur. These restrictions will all be subject to the state in which you live in.Just as a reminder you should always check with local legal council before taking on the process to change your name.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES NOTIFICATIONS
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES NOTIFICATION
Social Securityhttps://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name
IRS Name Changehttps://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/name-changes-social-security-number-matching-issuesVoter Registration
https://electioncountdown.us/Howtovote.html
Post Office
https://www.marriagenamechange.com/blog/usps-change-address-name/
Other Government Agencies
State Welfare, Child Support, Veteran’s Administration.
NAME CHANGE INFORMATION BY STATE - STATUTES/ CODES AND HELP GUIDES.
Alabama
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/al/
https://eforms.alacourt.gov/media/jtzbncuw/request-to-change-name.pdf
Help Info
https://www.alabamalegalhelp.org/resource/request-to-change-name-for-an-adult#:~:text=Probate%20Court%20has%20original%20jurisdiction,person%20filing%20the%20petition)%20resides.
_____________________________________
Alaska
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/az/
Help Info
https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/shcname.htm
_____________________________________
Arizona
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ak/
Help Info
https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change
_____________________________________
Arkansas
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ar/
Help Info
https://a.arlawhelp.org/name-change/name-change
_____________________________________
California
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ca/
Help Info
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/name-change
_____________________________________
Colorado
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/co/
Help Info
https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/taxonomy/term/454?resource_type=454
_____________________________________
Connecticut
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ct/
Help Info
https://uwc.211ct.org/name-changes-changing-your-name-connecticut
_____________________________________
Delaware
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/de/
Help Info
https://courts.delaware.gov/help/changename/
_____________________________________
Florida
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/fl/
Help Info
https://www.flcourts.gov/content/download/685995/file_pdf/982a.pdf
_____________________________________
Georgia
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ga/
Help Info
https://georgia.gov/apply-name-change
_____________________________________
Hawaii
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/hi/
Help Info
https://namechange.ehawaii.gov/public/welcome.html
_____________________________________
Idaho
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/id/
Help Info
https://courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/Forms/name
_____________________________________
Illinois
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/IL/
Help Info
https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/forms/approved-forms/forms-approved-forms-circuit-court/name-change
_____________________________________
Indiana
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/in
Help Info
https://indianalegalhelp.org/legal-topic/name-and-gender-marker-change
_____________________________________
Iowa
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ia/
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/674.pdf
Help Info
https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change#
_____________________________________
Kansas
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ks/
Help Info
https://www.kansasjudicialcouncil.org/legal-forms/adult-name-change
_____________________________________
Kentucky
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ky/
Help Info
https://www.kyjustice.org/topics/individual-rights/name-changes
_____________________________________
Louisiana
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/la/
Help Info
https://www.lsba.org/documents/ATJPublicResources/SRLAdultNameChange.pdf
_____________________________________
Maine
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/me/
Help Info
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/forms/pamphlets/Legal%20Name%20Change.doc
https://www.maineprobate.net/forms2019/Name%20Change%20Adult/CN-1%20Petition%20Name%20Change%20Adult.pdf
_____________________________________
Maryland
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/md/
Help Info
https://www.courts.state.md.us/legalhelp/family/namechange#
_____________________________________
Massachusetts
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ma/
Help Info
https://www.mass.gov/name-changes
_____________________________________
Michigan
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/mi/
Help Info
https://www.courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/name-change/
_____________________________________
Minnesota
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/mn/
Help Info
https://www.mncourts.gov/Help-Topics/Name-Change.aspx#
_____________________________________
Mississippi
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ms/
Help Info
https://www.msatjc.org/family-and-children-law
_____________________________________
Missouri
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/mo/
Help Info
https://www.courts.mo.gov/hosted/probono/name_change.htm
_____________________________________
Montana
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/mt/
Help Info
https://courts.mt.gov/forms/NameChange
_____________________________________
Nebraska
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NE/
Help Info
https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/self-help/name-change/adult-name-change
_____________________________________
Nevada
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NV/
Help Info
https://selfhelp.nvcourts.gov/self-help/name-changes/overview-of-name-changes?enter=1
_____________________________________
New Hampshire
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NH/
Help Info
https://www.courts.nh.gov/self-help/name-changes
_____________________________________
New Jersey
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NJ/
Help Info
https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/name-change/name-change-adults
_____________________________________
New Mexico
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NM/
Help Info
https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SRL_Name_Change.pdf
https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/11/Adult_Name_Change_Instructions.pdf
_____________________________________
New York
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NY/
Help Info
https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/namechange/basics.shtml
_____________________________________
North Carolina
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/NC/
Help Info
https://www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/application-for-adult-name-change
https://guides.lib.unc.edu/legalnamegenderchange/namechange
_____________________________________
North Dakota
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/ND/
Help Info
https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/name-change-adult
_____________________________________
Ohio
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/OH/
Help Info
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/change-of-name/14
https://cbsc.osu.edu/documents/name-and-gender-change-guide-adults-feb-2022-1-1-1.pdf
_____________________________________
Oklahoma
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/OK/
Help Info
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/dps/docs/name-change.pdf
https://oklaw.org/resource/adult-name-change-forms
_____________________________________
Oregon
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/OR/
Help Info
https://w
ww.courts.oregon.gov/courts/lane/help/pages/namesexchange.aspx
_____________________________________
Pennsylvania
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/PA/
Help Info
https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/student-services/legal-services/legal-information-students/name-change
Philidelphia
https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/forms/civil/Name-Change-Petition-01-101A.pdf
https://www.patransequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Court-Documents-Packet_Pike.pdf
_____________________________________
Rhode Island
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/RI/
Help Info
https://www.glad.org/issues/id-documents-rhode-island/
https://docs.sos.ri.gov/documents/BusinessServices/PC8.1-change-of-name.pdf
_____________________________________
South Carolina
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/sc/
Help Info
https://sclegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/How-to-Change-Your-Name-SCLegal-Brochure.pdf
_____________________________________
South Dakota
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/sd/
Help Info
https://ujslawhelp.sd.gov/NameChangeAdult.aspx
_____________________________________
Tennessee
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/TN/
Help Info
https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/3826/Name-Changes
https://chanceryclerkandmaster.nashville.gov/wp-content/uploads/Name-Change-Adult-Information-updated-2.11.20.pdf
_____________________________________
Texas
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/TX/
Help Info
https://guides.sll.texas.gov/name-changes#:~:text=Changing%20your%20name%20through%20a,reasons%20against%20the%20public%20interest.
_____________________________________
Utah
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/UT/
Help Info
https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change.html
_____________________________________
Vermont
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/VT/
Help Info
https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/probate/name-changes
_____________________________________
Virginia
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/VA/
Help Info
https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/42/change-name-forms
_____________________________________
Washington
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WA/
Help Info
https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=13#:~:text=Name%20Changes%20are%20filed%20in,Name%20Change%20must%20be%20completed.
_____________________________________
West Virginia
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WV/
Help Info
https://legalaidwv.org/legal-information/changing-your-name/
_____________________________________
Wisconsin
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WI/
Help Info
https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/namechange.htm
_____________________________________
Wyoming
State Info
https://lawchek.net/books/howdoichangemyname.com/statecodes/WA/
Help Info
https://equaljustice.wy.gov/legal-help/find-info-by-topic/family-law/name-change/adult-name-change/
https://www.uwyo.edu/studentatty/legal-information-by-topic/name-changes.pdf
_____________________________________
