Anyone ever legally had your name changed?
 

If so, how lengthy and involved a process is it. Me and a friend were having a discussion and he says that it's not all that hard, you just go to the courthouse pretty much and they do it. Is that right?

email this guy
http://www.wkyc.com/weblog/optimus/

I did.

Long process. Background checks are done.
Then you have to post in major newspapers in your area.
Lots of steps. Took my name change almost 2 years.
I simply went from my birth name to what my name should have been had my mother been married at the time.


yes I am an illegitamate left handed step child :( (thank god I'm not red headed)

seriously though the above is correct

I have - I did it NZ though - It was as simple as filling in a form - I dont see why it would be different in the states.

edit: saw the post above - wow - it took me 10 mins!

go to legalzoom.com you get get it done by them

I had my name changed and my son's name changed. It was quite simple. Lawyer filled out the legal paperwork, ran it in a "legal" paper for 6 or so weeks, went to the judge, he signed it, done.

What do you mean "legal" paper? Like the news paper?

Nick ,

My legal name has "o" in it should be a "u" back in the day looked into getting it done when i was very young , its lengthy process n shit

like where they post bids n shit for county work and stuff that section n shit

Very easy to change your name ..... if you get adopted. Also possible for adults. Blue blood makes a lot of cash with adoptions.

This guy made millions by brokering adoptions with Royals:
http://www.consulweyer.de/

It depends on where you get it done. I did ours in a big county in GA and they ran it in a paper that is nothing BUT legal announcements - name changes, probates, foreclosures, tax sales, etc. But here in my small town they run them in the regular local weekly paper.

Jesus...I did in Florida...dropped my last name...long story but I did not want to carry on my father's and grandfather's legacy. But it was a snap...went to a legal aid office. They handed me all the paperwork and told me how to fill it out. I mailed it to a judge and got it back, signed about a week later. Was less than $200 and no fuss. Then I just had to go down to the local Social Security office and have a new card issued. Piece of cake.

That was in 1998.

should there be a valid reason or you can change your name just for the heck of it?

I'm pretty sure with guys changing their names to Optimus Prime and shit...any reason is deemed a valid reason. :winkwink:

There was this guy here who actually changed it to Heywood Jablowme ..no shit

Yep. It's true. As long as you are not out to defraud or deceive, you can legally get an alias, which is not the same as legally changing your name.

That is more expensive. But, this aka is also legally binding; and, while your social security number stays the same, you can have your birth certificate name changed and your passport and other legal documents changed.

I did it eleven years ago.

So, an alias in otherwords, is NOT legally binding. Like, you couldn't go cash checks made out to said alias correct? Or you just couldn't enter into contracts etc?

Yes, it is.

The first year was a little tedious when I was changing the name on my driver's license and birth certificate and social security card.

You can, for more money....and more hassle get a new social security number and literally erase who you were for good.

I chose the easier route and it cost me less than a hundred dollars....and the name I use is legal, for my purposes......

Never been on that point of changing my name though my dad told me before that it's not real the name he wanted me to have (it's my grandmother's choice).

When "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" came out, I remember some fan legally changed his name to "Obi Wan Kenobi". What a dumb shit.

Our birth certificates weren't changed. In fact, whenever we needed something that needed a birth certificate, we also had to take our name change paperwork with us. Never had any problem with both of them in hand though - got passports, new SS cards, crossed Canadian border, kid got into the USAF, etc.

i was interested in the same issue, when my girlfriend change her firstname...
it is a long process... :(

Again for the non believers:

When I did it it took me almost 2 years and cost a bundle. They did many background checks on me and many credit checks to make sure I wasn't trying to defraud someone.

I had everything changed ss# and birth certificate included. When I did this I lived in the boston mass area. I had to make sure legal notices were put in my local papers including all the boston papers and NYC papers there were other big cities I had to make sure the legal notices were in also.

Is it a federal thing? Or do the rules vary state to state?

Edit* Just seems to be so many different versions going on that one would assume that it's a state to state thing.

If you have the right amount of money the long process would be a short one. :winkwink:

It cost me under a hundred dollars...I can't remember exactly how much.

You can have your birth certificate changed, as long as you show them the court papers. I did it.

My social security number is the same as it was...to have that number changed does involve a longer, legal process...but the name can be changed by showing proof of the court papers.

I didn't hallucinate my name change. It's legally binding and I'm sure with a little digging, my other identity could be found. Point is...I did not want to spend the thousands it would take to go that particular route, which, I do believe, one day, I probably will.