Name change - Who do I go to first?

[Kyler]

I've looked for this information but I can't seem to find it. Do I need to go to the SS office first and wait for my new SS card in order to change my name everywhere else? Or can I go to the SS office, BMV, etc. all in one day?

[mrs izzy]

First you need to go to the court in your area and get a legal name change done.

Some states are easier then others.

Once you get that, then change your Birth Certificate and then you go to the SS office, Passport, DMV, Bank etc.

Isabell

[Natalie]

Yep, you have to go to the District Court or Superior Court in your state and petition the court to change you name. If you have valid reasons and meet the criteria you can sometimes have that name change order sealed from public dissemination. That's what I did. Each state makes its own rules and criteria for changing one's name legally and all that information can be obtain on the courts website or at the court or county clerks office.

[JayDawg]

In my state, the preferred order seems to be Driver's License, then Social Security office. They are not dependent on one another and can be done in the same day. You just have to bring along the court order for the name change.

[Sebryn]

Drivers license first usually I think since to get a SS card changed I'm pretty sure you need a current photo ID of some sort that reflects the changes. At least that's how they do it here in Texas. I did it that way both times that way, both for the name change last year and again for the gender change this year. See about making an appointment for the SS office btw....the waits are horrid. I did the changes on the same day the first time, DL office and then SS office.