Do I Need an Attorney to Legally Change My Name
Transfer the order to your local driver`s license office and social security office to update your legal information. Also send copies of the order to your creditors and other business contacts to update your new name in their records. Once you have posted a notice of name change (if necessary), you may need to hold a hearing with a judge. The judge will consider your application and any objections before deciding on your application. If the court approves the change, you should get a copy of the court order so that you can start changing your name on the official documents. Asking to legally change your name can be a daunting experience. A name change can affect everything from your personal credit cards to important legal documents like your birth certificate or passport. Finally, a person is prevented from changing their name if it contains a racist remark, other hateful or combative words, or symbols that make their new name confusing, such as !, * or $. If you apply less than 1 year after the issuance of your previous passport, you must collect the following: There is a legal procedure that allows an adult to have their name changed. Aside from the obvious reason why a person doesn`t like their first name, there are many lifelong events that can cause them to change their name.
If you are the legal guardian of a minor under the age of 18, it is possible to change their name. It is illegal to impersonate another person with the intention of changing their name. The answer to this question is: No, you cannot change the name of another adult. Regardless of the reason for the child`s name change, the court usually requires that a standard be met, that the name change be in the best interests of the child. In addition, a lawyer can also determine if you are facing any restrictions due to the new name you choose. If a court has already prohibited you from changing your name, you may need to hire a lawyer to provide further legal advice regarding your next steps. Several conditions must be met before a person can request that their name be changed. Depending on why they change their name, as well as the relevant laws in their respective jurisdictions, these requirements usually include: Most likely, you will have to fill out a large amount of documents that coincide with your name change. There is paperwork when you need to file with the courts, and there is paperwork to change your name on your important documents (such as passports or bank accounts). Overall, this can mean a lot of work. Creativity is very personal, and some people may feel limited by the name given to them.
Changing your name allows you to get creative and choose something unique that will help you stand out from the crowd, as long as it`s not a name change prohibited by your state. Changing your name is a legal process you can do yourself, or you can ask a lawyer to do it for you. The following legal form information and templates are provided for your convenience. You should contact a lawyer if you have any questions about changing your name legally. The publication of a public announcement of a name change may be required by your state. This means that you will need to publish your name change in a local newspaper. Sometimes it is possible to waive this requirement, but this decision is at the discretion of the court. There are objections to the publication of your name change, which must be submitted within a time limit set by the court. Are you planning to change your name? This guide to legally changing your name will help you get started. If the clerk or judge rejects your application for a name change, you will receive a notice of rejection explaining the reason for the decision. The notice should also explain your right to appeal this decision and the time limit.
If you have made a mistake or forgotten a form, you may have the option to edit your submission by adding the missing documents within a certain period of time. Pay attention to the delay so as not to miss your window. It is possible that your name change request will be rejected (although if you follow our advice above, this probably won`t happen). The two main reasons why a name change request may be rejected are: For a more detailed view of our name change process, click here. Name changes cost a few hundred dollars and vary depending on your storage location. If you wish to change your legal name, you must use a legal procedure. You are free to use an alias or nickname at any time, but it is not your official name. The reason for your name change determines the legal procedure you must follow. An experienced family law lawyer can review local laws and procedures regarding name changes and ensure that you inform all relevant government agencies. You can also view all of your application documents before submitting them to the court. Under the NC Act, a parent cannot change the name of a minor child without the consent of the other parent if both parents are alive.
A minor child over the age of 16 may change his or her name with the consent of the custodial parent without obtaining the consent of the other parent if the clerk is satisfied that the other parent has left the minor.