How to Change your Name

How to Change your Name How to Change your Name There are a variety of reasons why you would want to change your name. It could be that you seek a change, due to your marital status, may be your name coincides with someone you do not really appreciate or you simply are unhappy with your name. While you may have decided what you want to be called there are a set of rules one needs to follow in the U.S. Although the rules may differ from one state to another, the process is a general one that remains the same.
Here’s help on what you need to do if you need to change your name.

Choose a name

The most important thing to do is choose a good name. Pick a name that you are going to be happy being addressed by. You can just name your first name, middle name or last name or may be even all of them. But whatever you choose, choose carefully.

You can consult a professional numerologist to study the numbers that your name adds up to.
Check your favourite alphabets
Do you want to be named after someone you look up to or love
Avoid fraud names and faking someone else’s name, after a name is about your true identity.
Avoid using some brand or trademark names
Prevent yourself from creating an obscene name

Always consult an appropriate office of the local government. Find everything about the legal paperwork and consultation to make the name change.

Fill up all required forms

Get a petition for a name change. It is usually a mandatory step.
Apply for an order for a name change
A notice required to announce the change to the public
An affidavit of consent from the government
A form or affidavit to notify the authorities

Get the papers notarized

Get the notary done on all the documents that need to be notarized.

Maintain duplicate copies

Always maintain duplicate copies of all your documents. You never know when you would need to submit extra copies. You will always have a back up if you lose the originals.

Name submission
Submit required papers to the correct offices with all the details required to be fulfilled.

Wait for approval

Just in case your name change is not approved you may have to approach the court. If it is then you need to follow the next step.

Announce your name change

Advertise your name change in the newspapers and make a public announcement. This allows public to object or accept your new name.

If the name change is not approved
Approach the court and seek the name change you want to make. Fill up an affidavit and give it to the court clerk. Make the required changes and submit. Once you get the approval, make a public announcement.

Use your name
You will have to send your changed name to various administrative offices with an application and the name change document issued to you as proof. Approach the department of motor vehicle for a licence; apply for a new birth certificate, Social security administration and Bureau of records of vital statistics.

Approach the Social security department before you approach the department of motor vehicles to match all documents.