Legal Name Change Procedures

A legal name change typically involves a few key steps. First, you fill out a petition form that requests the change, which you file with the court in your area. You may need to pay a fee. Next, the court may schedule a hearing where you explain your reasons for the change. Some jurisdictions require you to publish your new name in a local newspaper for a set period. If the court approves your request, you receive a court order confirming your new name, which you can then use to update your identification and legal documents.