NAME CHANGE
An adult can petition the court to officially grant a change of name. It involves filing several forms and following the court’s name change process. The result is a court order recognizing the new name. In the case of a minor child, where both parents agree, changing a child’s name can often be as easy as changing the name of an adult. One or both parents can also petition the court to change the name of their minor child. Where both parents request the change, courts normally grant the request automatically. When one parent alone petitions to change a child’s name, the other parent must be given proper notice of the proposed name change.
Divorce, complicated spelling, tricky pronunciation, personal preference -- there are several reasons why you may want to change your name. And though the rules have changed recently, it's still a relatively straightforward procedure. Some attorneys charge fifteen hundred dollars to prepare name change petitions. Legally changing your name shouldn't be so expensive because it is not a complicated process.
- choose a name and make it your own
- change back to your former name after divorce
- change your child's name
- get a new or amended birth certificate for you or your child
- get a new driver license, Social Security card and passport
- get a court to recognize a change of gender