I just brought proof of my name change that was printed in the paper to have filed today at the county clerk's office... is that the last step in changing your name? Can I start calling my credit card company, insurance company, getting my license changed, etc... and start changing my name over to Dominick now?

I was gonna ask the guy there at the county but he didn't seen too friendly and the last time I emailed the county clerk she told me to do the research on my own.  I tried looking, but I can't find anything. Does anyone know or can tell me who to ask?

i'm not from the States, but I would say it's enough. Once it's legal after all, it only makes sense that everything else would be changed over as well. I'd just give the credit card companies, etc, a call, say you have changed your name and you have the papers/proof, and go from there.

That's what I was thinking but I'm not sure. I was just looking on a website and saw that I had to wait for Order Granting Change of Name, which would be my new I.D. it says on this website below. Isn't that where the judge just sign's the paper that you've already handed in to the court changing your name from (real name) to your (New name)?

http://www.wikihow.com/Change-Your-Name

It seems like some of the steps are out of order...? I filled out an affidavit and return it to the county clerk before I had my name printed in the papers and that was for filing as a poor person.

I'm really confused. I have no clue if I have done everything that I needed to do so I can switch my name over on everything now...

Isn't having your name in the paper just a precursor to seeing a judge and getting the official name change court order?

You have to wait for your court order.  I don't know what state you live in, so I don't know what exactly the process is for you, but if you're getting a court ordered name change, you have to wait for the piece of paper that the judge signs.  In California, I had a court date set at which point the judge called me up, asked a question or two, and signed the court order.  Your county clerk should have told you what you're supposed to do next; if not, you should call and ask.  No governmental agency or other official entity is going to accept your name change without that signed piece of paper.

I didn't have to print my name change in the paper.  So I don't know in which order that comes in.
but I'd say you can start telling companies about your name change as soon as the judge signs the name change order and you get a copy of it, because the companies will want a photo copy of the name change order as well.

Once you get the court order then you can start to change it over.

From what I can tell (in Massachusetts):
1) Get your name changed through the courts and wait to receive the court order.
2) Change your name with Social Security
3) Change everything else

lol, I tried changing my name on my MA ID with just the court order but they didn't let me since it wasn't changed with Social Security. I'm assuming it'll be the same case with my passport. I want to get at least my ID updated before swapping my name with banks and all that.

Quote from: Andy8715 on December 29, 2011, 06:41:03 PM
Once you get the court order then you can start to change it over.

Exactly.  You need an actual court order, a legal document signed by a judge, to change your name on most stuff.  So just printing it in the newspaper is not enough.  That's just a step in the process.

Thanks guys.

Quote from: Liam K on December 29, 2011, 05:55:14 PM
You have to wait for your court order.  I don't know what state you live in, so I don't know what exactly the process is for you, but if you're getting a court ordered name change, you have to wait for the piece of paper that the judge signs.  In California, I had a court date set at which point the judge called me up, asked a question or two, and signed the court order.  Your county clerk should have told you what you're supposed to do next; if not, you should call and ask.  No governmental agency or other official entity is going to accept your name change without that signed piece of paper.

The judge did signed something and that's when I went over to the county clerk for it to be filed. It was the name change petition and name change order.

Quote from: Felix on December 29, 2011, 05:46:21 PM
Isn't having your name in the paper just a precursor to seeing a judge and getting the official name change court order?

I have no idea.

Quote from: Adio on December 29, 2011, 07:39:29 PM
Exactly.  You need an actual court order, a legal document signed by a judge, to change your name on most stuff.  So just printing it in the newspaper is not enough.  That's just a step in the process.

I have the the "name change petition" and "name change order" signed by the judge. Do I need a court order too?

It will say "birthname will now be known as chosenname" and be signed by the judge and notarize or whatever it is when they indent a seal or something on it. If that is what your name change order says is then yah it should be what you should use.

I just went through this for Minnesota.  Your particulars may differ.

1.)  Got the signed court order for name change.  I also had the judge indicate on my order that my birth certificate will be amended to my new name.
2.)  Went to the DMV with my certified copy ($14/ea).  They verified it was certified and took a photocopy.  Had to pay for a new license.
3.)  Went to the Social Security Office and gave them the paperwork I found on the web for my name change.  Again they needed to verify my certified copy but did not keep it.
4.)  Started notifying my:  Bank, Student Loans, Auto Loan, Auto/Home insurance, etc.   All required a copy of my certified letter, but not the actual letter.
5.)  Once I received my new Social Security Card (2 days ago!) I was able to notify payroll to change my name on my paychecks and HR to change my name on my retirement funds.  My name had been previously changed on the other records, but legally they had to keep it to my birth name until the SS card came.
6.)  Still to do:  Contact the MN department of Vital Records to get my birth certificate changed.  Get my passport changed.  Etc.

Good luck!

Quote from: Andy8715 on December 29, 2011, 08:30:25 PM
It will say "birthname will now be known as chosenname" and be signed by the judge and notarize or whatever it is when they indent a seal or something on it. If that is what your name change order says is then yah it should be what you should use.

I have something similar to that, but I don't think that's it.

I just found my directions for name change. It's says I have to wait 40 days after the judge signs the order or whenever the judge states the effective date, it becomes final if the publication requirement is completed. Is the judge supposed to send me something in the mail or notify me by mail when this happens?

Thanks Zach R.

Another question: Do I have to have my birth certificate changed? I don't want to change my birth certificate for religious reasons. Everything else I want changed.

QuoteAnother question: Do I have to have my birth certificate changed? I don't want to change my birth certificate for religious reasons. Everything else I want changed.

In my case I had it added.  From what I understand it is not required but you will need to keep a copy of your legal change order with your birth certificate to show it is yours.   I would recommend getting a passport if you don't already have one.  Once you have a passport that is usually accepted better than your birth certificate.  (Then again, I'm not sure how many places still require a birth certificate to prove your identity.)

Thanks Zach R.

they send you a proof of legal name change paper in the mail which you have to wait to get then show the insurance/credit card/bank people or fax a copy to them to get them to change your name in their system.

i think you need to change your birth certificate to change your passport but there is probably a way around it.

Quote from: Andy8715 on December 29, 2011, 08:30:25 PM
It will say "birthname will now be known as chosenname" and be signed by the judge and notarize or whatever it is when they indent a seal or something on it. If that is what your name change order says is then yah it should be what you should use.

I have  Name Change order paper, but the last page is not filled out, only the first page is. The judges name is stamped on first page on top where it say: Present: Hon... (Judges name)

I'm so confused. I'm not sure who to contact to see if I'm able to change things over to my new name...


Thanks anibioman.

Does my gender change over to male once my name is changed?

Sorry for all the questions. I have no one to help me with this.

To change your passport you only need a copy of your name change order.  To get a new passport you would need your birth certificate and a copy of your name change order.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html

I am waiting a bit to change my gender at the same time.  You only need a doctor's note!
http://transequality.org/Resources/passports_2011.pdf

Sorry, I travel for work so I've been looking into this.  The only thing holding me back is I want to wait to get my note and the $$ for the renewal.

I would call the court house where the judge is and ask someone there.  There are too many people on here who are going by what it took for them to change their name. 

Quote from: anibioman on December 29, 2011, 09:17:30 PM
they send you a proof of legal name change paper in the mail which you have to wait to get then show the insurance/credit card/bank people or fax a copy to them to get them to change your name in their system.

Like anibioman says this but I didn't get anything in the mail.  My name change paper was given to me right after my hearing with the judge.  Too many different experiences when the only person that will know for certain is the court system.