How to Change Your Name
How to legally change your name can be a frightening task. Especially since you have gone you're entire lives with people referring to you by that one sole name that can be hard to jump away from. Below is a step-by-step guide to get you through the process. File a name change guide petition, go to your local county court clerk's office and they will give you the necessary forms to change your name. Or, you can probably go right online and download the petition.
Get the name change petition notarized or am I speaking Spanish to you right now? A notary is a person that is licensed by the state to witness documents. Where to find a notary? If you go to your local branch bank they should have a notary on staff at all times. File the name change petition and go to that county court office and tell them you mean business and you want your name changed as soon as possible. They will probably charge you a fee ranging anywhere from $10 to $400 depending on how tax thirsty your state is.
Make a public announcement where you stand on a pedestal in the middle of town and scream your name change. Just kidding, you will need to go to your local newspaper and have them post an ad stating your name change. You must file an affidavit to the court stating that in fact you have applied for your name change. Most of the time the newspaper will do this for you but again, it depends on your state.
If you get your affidavit in you are not eligible for your hearing. Depending on the situation, you may have to go in and defend yourself. On a typical name change after marriage or divorce this does not happen but you never know with the courts, after all look at the health care ruling. After, hopefully being approved, you will be issued a certified name change decree that makes it legal for you to now go to the Social Security administration, DMV (to pick up a driver's license), and to get a new passport.
Make sure that if you were just married that, when you file your name change petition, you have your original marriage certificate with you. Likewise, if you were just divorced make sure to apply with your divorce decree. If you are neither one of these two groups and just changing your name to for personal reasons you may have to go into the court to defend your case. It is rare for this to happen so make sure to plead your case in a polite fashion, if you plan on getting your decree.