This guide tells you how to change your name. Fill out the appropriate form . You must include information about the court order in your Petition to Change the Name of a Child. Your legal name change document, such as your: Marriage certificate. There are lots of reasons you might want to know how to change your name. To see if you can e-file instead, call your district court clerk to find out whether they permit e-filing in name change cases. You can even add a name to your full name if the court allows it. Let the judge know you want to use a new name and spell your new name so it becomes part of thedivorce decree. Related Articles Name Change Name-change basics for both children and adults. This page provides an overview of Texas's laws relating to changes in identification documents. Step 9: Change official documents to show your new name. For related information, see our LGBT Law guide. HitchSwitch is a professional name change service that not only guides you through the process of how to legally change your name, it actually does the bulk of the work for you.The service tackles everything from researching to autofilling tons of paperwork; plus, the cheapest package costs only $39! Copyright by the Texas State Law Library. This includes the petition, fingerprint card, the order, and Statement of Inability to Afford Court Costs, if applicable. If you were on felony probation or juvenile probation for a felony, get proof that you completed your period of probation from the district clerks office in the county where you were prosecuted. This is important because you want to select a name you will be comfortable with for the rest of your life. Digital strategy, design, and development byFour Kitchens. How do I change my name if Im not divorcing? Contact the clerk's office regarding whether they require a scanned and attached copy of your fingerprint card to the petition and later take your original fingerprint card to your court hearing. Please take our patron satisfaction survey! The other parent must get legal notice of your child's name change case even if the other parent is not listed on your childs birth certificate. A. The statements and opinions are the expression of the author, not LegalZoom, and have not been evaluated by LegalZoom for accuracy, completeness, or changes in the law. TexasLawHelp.orgis managed by Texas Legal Services Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Other counties have a time you can walk-in to see the judge. Sworn affidavit containing the necessary elements for adult name change. Yes. Fill out this additional form only if you have a low-income, receive public assistance because you have a low income, or cannot pay the court filing fee: Note: You can print your court forms and fill them out neatly in blue or black ink. marriage certificate) with the raised seal. Changing Your Name Can Be A Simple Process. Youwill likely berequired to submit a certified copy of your marriage license, which you can obtain through thecounty clerk's office. Pay the filing fee (or file your completed Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs if you cannot afford the fee). How To Legally Change Your Name (2023 Guide) - Forbes Contact the Texas Vital Statistics Unit to discuss your situation. TLSC provides free legal services to underserved Texans in need of education, advice, and representation. You cant change your first name and you cant invent a new name. Adoption Lawyers. Frequently asked questions about changing a child's name. You dont need to do anything else to change their name. Best Credit Cards for International Travel. There will be a fee for this service. To change your last name, you will need a court order. Some counties will schedule a date and time for your hearing. If you want to change your name after you are married, the marriage certificate is the documentation you provide to places like the DMV or your bank. Before you do anything else, you'll need to get in touch with the Social Security Administration. If you are unable to afford court costs, you can probably have the filing fee waived by filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Court Costs. This allows a person to obtain a decree from their local court and change their name on their bank accounts, credit cards, and government agencies. You can change your middle name if it involves one of the names on the marriage certificate (for example your pre-marital name is Emily Rose Lee and your spouses last name is Sandoval, you could choose to be Emily Lee Sandoval or Emily Sandoval Lee). To legally change your name, you must submit a petition to your local Superior Court. You need this order to change your name on identity documents, like your driver's license, passport, or social security card. For parents and guardians. How do I legally change my child's name? Check your state court website for filing fee details. You can also change your name in a divorce proceeding without having to file a separate name change petition. Frequently asked questions about changing a child's name. See How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card andHow do I change or correct my name on my Social Security number card? The cost for changing your name varies by state. Free form and instructions on filing the Statement are available at www.texaslawhelp.org. Not for sale. If you cannot find the other parent after looking really hard, you must give the other parent legal notice by having the notice published in a local newspaper, on the state's service by publication web site, or both. Each state has its own requirements, so be sure to find out exactly which documents you need to provide for your states procedure. Ask the clerk if there is a local standing order that you need to follow or attach to any of your documents. It cannot be requested in a divorce or modification suit. You may Change Your Legal Name or family name for personal choice or any other reason. Publishing public notice of a name change may be required by your state. Changing My Name After Marriage in Texas Changing names after marriage may involve adopting a spouse's name or another name to reflect one's new marital status. You'll need to submit a personal, cashier's, or certified check, or a money order with your fingerprint card and the petition. Choose Your New Name. See our Name Changes guide for details. A child name change case can be filed by the childs parent, managing conservator, or legal guardian. If you want to change the childs last name, you will need a court order. Warning: The information and forms in this guide are not a substitute for the advice and help of a lawyer. If you want to Change Your Last Name in Texas or you are willing to Change Your Family Name or Child Name Change you will have to fill up some name change forms and file your name change petition with a court fee in the family court of Texas. Changing Your Name. She has worked in law school career services and legal recruiting and has blogged extensively both in and outside the legal industry. To change your drivers license or state identification card, you must take a certified copy of the order changing your name to a Texas Department of Public Safety office. If you run into issues or have additional questions, consult with an attorney. Ask the clerk if there are local rules or procedures you need to know about for name changes. Depending on the state you live in and the reason for your name change, you may have to complete an FBI background check and have your fingerprints taken. List your new name on your marriage certificate. Download the name change form you need or order our completion services. This article published in the Texas Bar Today blog explains that your final divorce decree can incorporate a legal name change if you choose to change your name as part of the divorce. Once granted, use your new name officially on all government and financial records. If you were pardoned, get a copy of your pardon or clemency proclamation from the Secretary of State Registrations Unit. Make three copies of your name change documents for your files. Changing your legal name in Texas can be simple, but you must follow the steps and meet the requirements. If you are filing for a name change for yourself, you must be a resident of Maricopa County, you must be 18 years or older, you must inform the court if you have been convicted of a felony and if those offenses involved false statements or misrepresentation, you understand that changing your name will not release you from any obligations or liabilities, and you are not changing your name to that of another person to commit a crime or offense involving fraud or misrepresentation of identity. 1. You may have to pay an additional fee for a certified copy of the name change. Keep in mind that although you have the legal right to use your new name as soon as youre hitched, it takes a while to get the paperwork. Legal notice (service) of the petition is required for the childs parent (whose rights have not been terminated), managing conservator, or guardian. Call your district court clerk to find out how much filing the petition costs in your county. Can I Change My Child's Last Name Without Father's Consent? Another example would be if you were recently divorced and within your final divorce decree your last name has been restored to your maiden name. Free Texas Name Change Forms | Petition - PDF - eForms To change your name in Texas, you must meet the following requirements and show proof that: You're at least 18 years old You're filing your petition in your county of residence You're not filing with intent to defraud anyone or to avoid creditors Your new name is not vulgar Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. There is a fee for this service. How? If you need assistance with any of the papers, consult an attorney or anonline legal service. If you are changing your name less than a year after the passport was issued, you submit Form DS-5504 to the Department of State along with your passport and name change document and a photo. TLSC provides free legal services to underserved Texans in need of education, advice, and representation. The most common reason for a name change is marriage or divorce. You can only restore your maiden name, not change it to a new one. Proof of your identity, such as your passport, drivers license or state identification card. There is a directory of local law libraries available for public use atLaw Libraries in Texas. Rules from the Texas DPS regarding what they will accept when changing your last name after marriage. Do I have to tell the other parent that I want to change our childs name? Ask if your court is accepting prove-up affidavits. Pay the filing fee, unless you filled out a Statement of Inability to Afford Court Costs. No. While name changes are often combined with a marriage or a divorce, this section addresses a name change as its own process. It only changes the name. And, ask the clerks office or coordinator if the court requires you to get a criminal background check before your hearing. Get a legible and complete set of your fingerprints made on a Texas Department of Public Safety of Federal Bureau of Investigations fingerprint card. This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about changing a child's name. How to Change Your Name After the Wedding Name Change After Divorce - How To & Tips | Sisemore Law However, if you want to change your name more than a year after issuance of your passport, use Form DS-82 and include your name change document, photo, your passport and the fee. Both adults and children decide to change their name for a variety of reasons. Change name with Social Security | SSA All Rights Reserved. MW-0225 from 1980 provides a legal opinion on the use of a hyphenated last name. All rights reserved. What if I just need to correct the spelling of my childs name on his or her birth certificate? You will have to pay a fee to file the documents, so come prepared with a method of payment that is accepted by the court. Every state has its own laws and processes for carrying out those laws. Step 3: Collect additional paperwork if you have a felony conviction or you are a sex offender. If a court order has terminated the other parents parental rights and no one else has been named as the managing conservator or legal guardian of the child, use these instructions and forms to change your childs name: Instructions & Forms for Child Name Change One parent filing Other parent dead or rights terminated. This guide tells you how to change your name. If you are going through your state name change procedure though its likely that frequently changing your name will raise some questions for the court and unless you can provide a good reason for the current change, it could be denied or the court could ask a lot of questions and make the process challenging. Contact the District Clerks office in your county, or the court coordinator, to learn how to get an uncontested hearing for an adult name change. Not for sale. Dallas County | Legal Name Change Procedures If you do not know the childs fathers identity, you must give the unknown father legal notice by having the notice published in a local newspaper. A name change is not required by law, but a person may decide to take their spouse's last name when they get married. You can have your maiden name restored as part of your divorce. Each person's situation will vary. Follow these steps to have your name legally changed by a court. If you need to change your nameand it cannot be done through the marriage process, see the resources below to learn more about how to petition for aname change in court. If you want to change your childs name, use the forms found in this toolkit: I want to change my childs name. Your name will not be changed until the Order is filed. Save yourself some time and figure out which documents you need before you get started. If you served time in another state or federal prison, get a copy of your discharge papers from that states department of criminal justice or the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This page from the Texas Department of Public Safety provides instructions on how to change your name, address, or gender on your Texas driver license or ID card. 1. A. You must get a court order to change your child's name legally. You missed a step in the process (e.g. These steps take time, but they're important. Free. DPS will send the results directly to the court. By using this website, you agree not to sell or make a profit in any way from any information or forms that you obtained through this website. This means it is a crime to lie on this form. In some states you have to appear at a brief court hearing before a judge to have your name change approved. County staff persons are not qualified to provide legal advice. Changing your name after marriage is optional, not required. If the court ordered your name changed in your Final Decree of Divorce, your name is changed. Theres a reason were talking about documents before the name change process, and if youve ever shown up unprepared at the DMV, you know why. When the judge calls your case, stand in front of the judges bench. If you have a low-income, you can ask the Court to waive the filing fee by filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form. My name is misspelled on my birth certificate. The self-help guides and articles below will aid you in changing an adult's name. The document falls under a civil case and can be filed in any of the Maricopa County Superior Court locations. [1] If it's not, the name changing process will be more complicated. It is actually a very simple process in getting your last name changed. If the other parents rights have been terminated, they do not need to be notified. You can find information on your state court website. This is important . If you are wondering how to legally change your name after a divorce, you must make sure that your certificate of dissolution or judgment of divorce specifically gives you the right to change your name back to your premarital name or that your state law allows this. If the child lives in a different county, file your case in the county where the child lives using a new cause number. How to legally change the name of a child under 18. The reason for the change of name must be lawful and "in the public interest." If the other parent does not agree to the name change, you must have the other parent served with legal notice of the case by a constable, sheriff, or private process server. How to Change a Name in Bexar County, Texas | Legal Beagle If you are requesting a name change for your minor child, you must notify any interested party. of the wedding day, it can be easy to overlook completing the. Legal name change Texas forms are available for adults, minors and families. Information on the laws for those who plan to get married or are married in Texas. Name Change with Texas DPS & DMV | DMV.org No. The two main reasons a name change request might be denied are: If the clerk of court or the judge denies your name change request, youll receive a notice of denial explaining the reason for the decision. Examples of testimony an adult can use when asking the judge to change their name. This project provides free assistance in obtaining name and/or gender-marker changes on basic forms of identification. 2. TLSC provides free legal services to underserved Texans in need of education, advice, and representation. Information from the U.S. Social Security Administration on how to update your social security card with your new name. There is no single legal form to fill out. You can take that and show it. How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Texas Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. If you want to file a paternity case, use this toolkit: I need a paternity order. The name change is not automatic; you must request it (or agree to it) as part of your divorce petition, waiver, or answer. How to do a name change includes the following steps: 1. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. How to Change Your Name After Your Wedding Family Law Attorneys. If you change your name, no one else's name changeseach petition is for the applicant only, so your children's names don't change. (This can also be done in front of a judge, but notaries are more commonly used.) All Name Change Topics Also keep in mind that you should not change your name to something offensive or confusing. These will depend on a) your state of residence and b) the reason for your name change. Heres a representative sample, although by no means exhaustive: You get the idea, right? Do I need a court order to change my name? The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. Learn about changing your name in Texas when you have a criminal history. Please try again later. They are not for sale. You must have one in order for it to be changed. To change your last name, you will need a court order. You can also use the guided Name Change of an Adult form to help you fill out and file the documents. Its possible that your name change request will be denied (although if you follow our advice above, it probably wont happen). Bring any prior name change orders, proof of naturalization or resident alien status, if applicable, a copy of the childs birth certificate, adoption decree or guardianship proof if applicable, your photo identification, a clerk stamped copy of al filed documents, and two copies of the order changing the name for the judge to sign.
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