NAME CHANGE
Washington County
Court
You must attend a court hearing in order to petition a name change. Where you must go depends on the county that you live in. You will have to pay for court costs, $197.00 (prices may vary).
The clerk will give you a form to fill out when you arrive to petition a name change (this is all before you set the date for court). You will need to take it to get notarized, typically this can be done at your local town hall free of charge. Ask the clerk if you are not sure where to go.
You will need to take the now notarized form back to the clerk and then you will pay the fee. She will give you a court date upon which to appear. You will need to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of time.
On the day of your court hearing, you will be in the lobby with mainly divorce and civil dispute cases. You will eventually all be escorted into the courtroom. You will take a seat and wait for your name to be called (sadly, they will call your birth-name). The judge will ask you why you wish to have your name changed. Many just say that the name is what they have gone by for a long time and you feel it is time to make it legal (feel free to say whatever you want obviously).
Once the judge hears your case she will then say whether or not it has been approved (shouldn't be a problem with this). She will then have the clerk give you several official copies making your chosen name legal. They will be used to send off to change your birth certificate as well as other important documents and I.D.'s.
DMV
In order to change your name at the DMV you will need to bring your legal name change documents along with you. You will arrive and fill out the DMV form with all the changes that need to be made. Your number will be called and then you turn the document into the employee. They will have you pay the fee and fill out the appropriate information for you. Your new legal name will be called and your picture will be taken. Enjoy your new I.D.!
Social Security
To change your name on your Social Security card you will need to bring you name change form. You will wait in line, give them your form, and then they will change it for you. It will take a few weeks for your new card to arrive in the mail.
You must attend a court hearing in order to petition a name change. Where you must go depends on the county that you live in. You will have to pay for court costs, $197.00 (prices may vary).
The clerk will give you a form to fill out when you arrive to petition a name change (this is all before you set the date for court). You will need to take it to get notarized, typically this can be done at your local town hall free of charge. Ask the clerk if you are not sure where to go.
You will need to take the now notarized form back to the clerk and then you will pay the fee. She will give you a court date upon which to appear. You will need to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of time.
On the day of your court hearing, you will be in the lobby with mainly divorce and civil dispute cases. You will eventually all be escorted into the courtroom. You will take a seat and wait for your name to be called (sadly, they will call your birth-name). The judge will ask you why you wish to have your name changed. Many just say that the name is what they have gone by for a long time and you feel it is time to make it legal (feel free to say whatever you want obviously).
Once the judge hears your case she will then say whether or not it has been approved (shouldn't be a problem with this). She will then have the clerk give you several official copies making your chosen name legal. They will be used to send off to change your birth certificate as well as other important documents and I.D.'s.
DMV
In order to change your name at the DMV you will need to bring your legal name change documents along with you. You will arrive and fill out the DMV form with all the changes that need to be made. Your number will be called and then you turn the document into the employee. They will have you pay the fee and fill out the appropriate information for you. Your new legal name will be called and your picture will be taken. Enjoy your new I.D.!
Social Security
To change your name on your Social Security card you will need to bring you name change form. You will wait in line, give them your form, and then they will change it for you. It will take a few weeks for your new card to arrive in the mail.
