We spoke to lawyers and people who researched the best way to legally change your name. The article covers the United States and the UK. See below. We recommend you use this article as a springboard for further research specific to your area.

Changing your name in the United States is pretty simple. The process is fairly uniform throughout the country.

Changing your name at the DMV and Social Security Department

In Alabama, you can change your name after a marriage or divorce simply by presenting the marriage license or divorce decree to the DMV and Social Security Department. You will also need those documents to replace your passport.

If you are changing your name for another reason, Alabama code section 26-1-1 controls. That code section states that a person who is at least 19 years of age, is a resident of Alabama, has not been convicted of a felony or sex offence, and is not currently charged with a crime.

They cannot change their name to avoid debt. They may do so by filling out a petition, getting it signed by a notary, getting a background check, and paying a filing fee to the Probate Court of the County where they reside.

You will also be asked to attend a hearing and bring some additional documents with you like your birth certificate, proof of residency, and photo ID.

If a minor child wants to change their name an attorney must perform the name change request if one of the parents does not consent to the name change, cannot be located, or a father is not listed on the birth certificate and no adjudication of parentage has been made.

Otherwise, the process is similar to the one above, except that both parents will be required to do a background check as well.

Nelson C. Johnson, Licensed in AL & GA, griffithlowry.com

There are different laws in each state

This is a matter that falls to the states to decide, which means that there are at least 50 different sets of laws around legal name changes in the United States.

In most cases, parents can legally change the name of their children with little justification, though some states require minors to consent if they’re old enough (this age also varies by state).

For adults to legally change their name, many states require a justification of some kind, and others put extra restrictions on name changes for convicted felons, current members of the military, and other specific classes. Filing fees range from $50 to the hundreds.

Ben Michael, Attorney, topnotchattorney.com

Legally change your name using a Deed Poll

In the UK, a name change is a legal process, so there isn’t an “official” place to register it. By law, you are permitted to simply adopt a new name and begin using it.

However, it is possible to legally change your name using a “Deed Poll.” You will be able to change your full name or just part of it like your surname or name spelling.

It is legal in the UK for individuals to change their names as often as necessary, at any time and for any reason. You will need to prove, however, that the reason for your name change is not because of fraudulent or deceptive activity.

To change your name on a legal document like your passport or driving license, you must enrol your Deed Poll at the Royal Courts of Justice. You can do this by sending your filled-in forms and documents to the Queen’s Bench Division at His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

Queen’s Bench Division

Self-enrolled Deed Polls may be accepted by some organizations, but you should check before enrolling.

Deed Polls must be completed by the applicant, and two witnesses must sign and print their names. If you would like assistance with the proceedings, a specialist solicitor can prepare and file the Deed Poll on your behalf.

Having your Deed Poll enrolled provides a public record of a person’s name as the changes to their names are published in the London Gazette.

The process of enrolling your Deed Poll at the Royal Courts of Justice varies depending on your reason for changing your name. Each circumstance demands a different set of personal documents to facilitate your name change.

CROI TOWNSEND – STUART MILLER SOLICITORS – https://www.stuartmillersolicitors.co.uk/

Legally change your name for any reason

In the United States, you can legally change your name for any reason. The process for changing your name varies from state to state, but there are some general steps that you will need to follow.

First, you will need to file a petition with the court. In your petition, you will need to provide your current name and the name that you would like to be known as in the future. You will also need to explain why you are changing your name.

Once your petition has been filed, you will need to publish a notice of your name change in a local newspaper. After publishing the notice, you will need to attend a hearing, where a judge will decide whether or not to grant your request.

If your request is approved, you will be given a court order that officially changes your name.

You will then need to update your identification documents, such as your driver’s license and Social Security card, with your new name. While changing your name may seem like a daunting task, following these steps will ensure that the process goes smoothly.

Oberon Copeland
Owner & CEO Of Veryinformed.com

Using the new name in your documents

Changing your name should, and is a very simple process. It is possible in most states in the US to change your name by simply using the new name in your documents and telling acquaintances to call you by that name.

However, to prevent identity theft and fraud, most institutions like banks would ask for a court order and to obtain this, you would have to go through a court filing process.

Each state has different regulations and I would advise you to do the necessary research to know what your state requires. Since you must change your name in your state of origin, you can get it done in a different state if the regulations of your birth state do not suit you.

Provide a means of identification

You begin the name change process by filling out an online or physical form. It will be required to provide means of identification in the form of a Social Security number, ID photo, etc. You will also fill out forms that state the reason for your name change.

Depending on the state regulations, your name change filing can be denied on varying grounds such as changing the name to the name of a famous person or a name that contains numerals, non-English characters, and punctuations. The latter was enforced in California to prevent Elon Musk’s obnoxious attempt to name his child X Æ A-XII.

The next step is to submit your form to a court clerk and pay filing fees. The form would be reviewed by a magistrate and granted if it meets all requirements. If the magistrate is satisfied that you do not intend to perform identity theft, fraud, or break any other regulations, your name change would be approved.

It depends on state regulations

Using your name also depends on state regulations. In some states, you can begin to use your new name straight away, but most states would require a name change declaration in a newspaper before your name change is finalized.

Since marriage and divorce are the most common reasons for a name change, state laws allow the process to be done using a marriage certificate or divorce decree. This makes the filing process easy.

Lynne Martin, https://cashforhouses.org/

Following the process in your state

I live in the United States of America so I will be talking about the laws here. If you want to change your name for any reason, you can do so legally by following the process in your state.

In most states, you will need to file a petition with the court, publish a notice of your name change in a local newspaper, and attend a hearing. After the judge approves your name change, you will be issued a new birth certificate.

There are many reasons why people might want to change their names. Maybe you got married and want to take your spouse’s last name. Or maybe you simply don’t like your given name and want something different. Whatever the reason, changing your name is a relatively simple and straightforward process.

If you’re not sure where to start, the best place is usually your county courthouse or state website. They will have all the forms and instructions you need to file a petition for a name change.

In most cases, you will need to provide your current legal name, the proposed new name, and the reason for the change. You will also need to submit proof of your identity, such as a birth certificate or driver’s license.

How to legally change your name

If you want to change your legal name, there are specific steps that must be taken in order.

First, consult your state’s laws on the subject as they vary from state to state. You will most likely need to file a petition with the court, as well as publish a notice of your name change in a local newspaper. After which, you will attend a hearing in front of a judge who will either approve or deny your request.

The judge might issue an order

If approved, the judge will issue an order changing your name and you will be required to take this order to your local vital records office in order to receive an updated birth certificate.

In some states, there may be additional steps that are required in order to complete the process. For example, California requires a residency requirement before filing for a legal name change.

It’s important to note that changing your name does not mean that your credit history or other personal records will automatically be updated. You will need to contact each organization separately in order to update your information.

Mark Joseph, https://parentalqueries.com/

Learn more about the law by reading more articles.