Change Your Name

3 Parts:

Reasons for changing

Important Things To Remember When Changing Names

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If there is one thing we can't decide after being born, that is choosing the name of our preference. We meet some people who whine about their first names and yes, even their last names. There is a legal way though for one to change his or her name, but no assurance that such request will be granted.

One common reason why people change their names is after marriage (for women of course) and for some, they are not just happy with the names given to them.

The name changing process differs from state to state in the USA, but the methods are fairly similar. But whichever reason you have, presenting and filling out the required forms and papers is needed. Read over and check out the easy guides on how you can change your name.

Name Change After Getting Married

Generally, the clerk will ask you which name you would like to appear on your marriage certificate when you go to the courthouse to claim it. Always make sure that your new name (as a married woman) is what's written on the certificate. While getting married is the easiest way to change one's name, you should still think hard about which name you would like to carry for the rest of your married life. You may still carry your former last name and use it as your middle name (commonly practiced) or hyphenate your two last names if you are not yet ready to entirely drop your maiden name.

Name Changing for Other Reasons

Should you really decide that you badly want a new name, think about it very carefully. You can't go wrong and end up with another "undesirable" name. You may choose to change your first name, middle name, just the last name or the whole name entirely. Your reason should be valid before your request will be granted by the court. Be reminded though that there are some reasons for your request to be denied like:

1. 1
   When the name you chose includes some obscenities

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2. 2
   When your name contains numbers and symbols (Roman numerals are exceptions)

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3. 3
   When you pretend to be someone else to avoid bankruptcy

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Requirement in most states

1. 1
   Fill out the proper form and state your reasons for changing your name

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   Petition forms are obtained from the courthouse and submitted to the judge. Since the judge decides whether or not your petition will be granted, be sure that you come up with a valid reason. You may want to seek a lawyer's aide if you can.

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2. 2
   After filing for a petition, have it notarized and furnish a copy to the courthouse

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   It will also be wise if you get a copy of the records.

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3. 3
   Attend hearings

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   You will be asked straightforward questions and you must at all times be direct and honest with your answers. Your request may or may not be granted, depending on how you answer. If your request gets declined, you may want to try filing another petition.

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4. 4
   Depending on the state, a person is required to announce his or her new name and have it published for a certain period of time.

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5. 5
   Some people believe that their fate depends on their names, so if you choose to change yours, be sure it'll bring you a good one.

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1. 1
   Make sure important documents have matching names

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   It will be very easy to have a problem if your documents don't have similar names. Your documents may be treated null and void if you can't show how they match each other. For example, if you are opening a bank account under your married name but all of your identification cards are still under your maiden name, you may have a problem here. Unless of course you are able to show a marriage certificate. Overall though, your identifications should match perfectly to avoid any problem.

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2. 2
   Take note that wrong names may be classified as falsification in some cases

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   If you keep on using another name but your official documents or identification cards says otherwise, this may be classified as a form of falsification. You need to be very careful on this, especially if you are dealing with official negotiations and transactions. Falsification often leads to serious legal consequences.

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3. 3
   Pay attention to how you spell names

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   In most cases, just one change of letter in your name can mean it's a totally different person already, especially if you are using it on important documents. Some simple carelessness can cause a lot of hassle so pay attention to this.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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