A legal name change in California (and across the US) involves four major steps:
filing a marriage license or court order
, sharing your new title with the Social Security Administration, updating your passport and getting a new state ID.
How much money do you need to change your last name?
| Request Standard service Priority service | Registration of change of name Includes a standard certificate $195 $250 |
|---|
What does a person need to do to change their last name?
- Complete the Application for Change of Name form. …
- Gather the supporting documents. …
- Get fingerprints. …
- Provide a criminal record check or police information check. …
- Find any existing birth certificates. …
- Submit the application form. …
- Change of Name certificates. …
- Birth certificates.
How do I go about changing my last name after marriage?
To update your married surname, you
need an official marriage certificate
(not a commemorative certificate) from the registry in the state or territory where you were married.
Are you legally allowed to change your last name?
Typically,
you may legally change your name to whatever name you'd like
, although state marriage laws may also provide some additional legal guidance. There are some exceptions though. … Change your name to escape debt liability or hide from criminal liability. Change your name in order to commit a crime.
Does your name automatically change when you get married?
You've taken the plunge and perhaps decided to either take your spouse's last name or create your own last name with your partner after the wedding. …
Since your name does not change automatically when you get married
, you have to make sure you follow all the necessary legal steps to changing your name after the wedding.
What age can I legally change my name?
Once you're
16 years old
, it's legally your own decision to change your name. If you're 16 or 17, you're treated in the same way as an adult, and you can change your own name (by deed poll) without your parents' consent. (And your parents cannot change your name for you without your own consent.)
How hard is it to change your name?
Although it may be seem daunting to show up at court or fill out legal paperwork, you don't need to hire a lawyer to change your name. Filling out a Petition for Name Change can be fairly straightforward. But if you do feel overwhelmed by navigating the name change process yourself, consider outside help.
Is there a time limit to change your name after marriage?
You might be wondering, is there a time limit to change your name after marriage?
There is no time limit
, which is good, because you may end up with a lot of paperwork from your wedding that could take some time.
How can my 18 year old change his last name?
A petition for a California name change for an adult, or a petition for a minor's name change, must be
filed with the local superior court
. Depending on which court you file in, you may be required to submit supplemental information such as a background check along with your petition.
Can I use my husband's last name without legally changing it?
No. When you marry,
you are free to keep your own name
or take your husband's name without a court-ordered name change. The same is true whether you're in a same-sex or opposite-sex marriage. … However, in general, you'll need a court order if you and your spouse both want to change to a different name that you share.
What happens if you don't change your last name after marriage?
Your marriage license and certificate will show both your current and new name after marriage. So, if you decide not to change,
there will be a reference to your pre-marriage name, a.k.a. old name, a.k.a. current name, a.k.a. legal name
. Nine times out of ten, it's your maiden name.
Can I use both my maiden name and married name?
As we discussed in length above,
hyphenation will allow you to keep your maiden name while still adding your spouse's
. Many spouses choose hyphenation because they feel it's the best of both worlds because they don't lose their name and they're able to take their spouses. Two last names without the hyphen.
How many times can I change my name?
How often can I change my name? Unless you are changing your name as a result of marriage or divorce, you can only change your name
once every 12 months
. Some states have rules about how many times you are allowed to change your name.
How long does it take to change your last name?
When you have your Name Change Court Order signed by the judge, you can get A Certified Copy of it that day from the same court. You need the Certified Copy to get your most important records changed. It will take you from
6 weeks to 6 months
(usually 8 weeks or so) to get your Court Order.
Can you legally change your age?
Aging is inexorable. Your
age changes by itself, no legal action required
. In fact, no legal action is possible.
