Reasons for Changing Your Name
To honor your heritage or for religious reasons. Or to honor a step-parent. Or create a new last name with your spouse.
Legal Considerations and Steps
Does changing your name affect anything? You may need to update records with Social Security, credit cards, taxes, etc.
What to do first when you change your name? Update official documents like birth certificate. And get a certified copy of the name change order.
The most common reasons are marriage, divorce, or adoption.
What do you put under reason for name change? Top 10 reasons people change their names: dislike current name; changing name following divorce; husband taking wife’s name upon marriage; changing child’s surname to mother’s or father’s; couples combining or hyphenating surnames to form a new one; desire for a less or more "ethnic" name; transgender name changes.
Can you use a different name without legally changing it? In California you can legally change your gender with or without a name change. In this case, you do not need a court order unless you want one.
Steps to legally change your name:
- Petition to change your name by filling out a name change form
- An order to show cause for legally changing your name
- A decree to legally change your name
As long as you never use it in situations where you need to be legally using your legal name then it’s totally legal and no different than Elizabeth going by Lizzie.
Can a petition for name change be denied? A petition would be denied if you were changing your name to avoid judgments, legal actions, debts or obligations.
This notification of name change letter is used to inform both business and personal contacts that the sender has changed their legal name.
Copies of the official name change documents should be included with the notification letter.
In general, anyone can legally change their name for any reason except to commit fraud or evade the law.
How much does it cost to legally change your name? It might cost around ₹3000 in total to legally change your name in India.
Who do you need to notify when you change your name?
When legally changing your name, notify:
- Government agencies
- Financial institutions
- Insurers
- Health care providers
- Other personal contacts
To make it official, you need a court order. You will also need to provide proof of identity.
When choosing a new name, pick something you love that feels right.
In your letter requesting a name change, begin with your details and clearly state your purpose. Provide your desired new name and attach documentation.
General Advice on Name Changing
It’s not weird or illegal to change names. People do it for many personal reasons.