How to Change Your Legal Name

What is a Legal Name Change?

A legal name change is making a new name your official (legal) name.

Name Change via Marriage or Divorce

If you are changing your name due to marriage or divorce, you do not typically need to go through the process of getting a court order.

Name Change via Court Order

For name changes not related to marriage or divorce, you must ask a court to approve your new name.

How to Get Court Order

What is a Name Change Petition? A “petition” is the name for the forms you file to ask a court for something. In this case, you are asking the court to change…

Marriage & Divorce Records

You can use your marriage certificate or divorce documents (usually called a decree or certificate) as proof of your legal name change when you update your ID and other records. [icon name="magnifying-glass"…

Register to Vote or Update Your Voter Registration

How to Update Your Birth Certificate

Your birth certificate is the original proof of your legal name. Updating (called “amending”) your birth certificate puts an official record of your new name on file with the state. An amended…

Recommended Order

The order you update your name on your ID documents matters.