I think it depends where you live, SA, and what you're changing it from/to. I don't use the name on my birth certificate, but have never done anything formal, and at this point, the birth cert is the only place where that name is -- my SS card, passport, etc., all have the name I actually use. The passport was the most recent time I had to show the birth cert, I think, and I just asked if it could say Jesse.

Does anyone know how you change your name, and what it involves after its been legally done?

I went to a lawyer who handled it for me. It was fairly straightforward. I filed paperwork stating that I wanted to change my name and I was not doing it to avoid prosecution or welch on debts or defraud anyone. Once the motion was filed with the court, a legal notice was published in a local newspaper for four weeks, I think. Then proof of publication was filed with the court, at which time the motion was granted and I got a certified copy of the motion from the court.

Once I had the certified documents, I went to the DMV, Social Security and the Passport offices, I think. I just showed them the paperwork, along with my current government ID and, voila, everything got put in my new last name. Of course, I was 18 at the time so it wasn't like a million credit cards or anything to change.

I think it depends where you live, SA, and what you're changing it from/to.

The reason I ask is because I want to change my name from SA T. to SA A., taking my mother's surname. But I didn't know if, for example, I did it before I graduated college, whether I'd have to get my passport changed, my birth cert, driver's license, etc changed; and whether my new name would show up on my diploma. And how much it would cost, how much it would affect my life, etc.

cereal:

Thanks, Kristen, that's really helpful. Do you have to do it in your home state? And do you have to go through a lawyer?

I don't use the name on my birth certificate, but have never done anything formal, and at this point, the birth cert is the only place where that name is .

Using Annie Oakley inspired too many questions?

I did it my home county, which was Kings (Brooklyn). I'm not sure if we had to do it there or we just did it there because that's where I was born and still lived. This was about 15 years ago so we just went to some Jacoby & Meyers dude because we didn't know how else to do it. (The legal fees were a birthday present from my mom.) Nowadays, you can probably do it yourself. I'm sure there are forms online. I mean, when I became a business last year, I did the ficitious name filing myself and it was fairly painless.

You might want to look into local legal publications in your area. The Daily Journal here had a service where I could send them my paperwork and they'd handle the filing, the publication and the filing of the proof of publication. Their fee was a lot less than I would have paid a lawyer.

Also, you do need a certified copy of your birth certificate. I remember this because we had to go to the courthouse to get one.

And Kristen has the actually useful information! I'm sure if you notify the school of a name change, it'll go on the diploma.

I have knowledge! And yes, once I had the official paperwork, I just marched down to the Registrar's office and everything got changed to my new name.

ETA: The only glitch was SS. I was a bit of a slacker and didn't do that for, like, three or four years. So every year or so I'd get nasty letters from them and the IRS about using the wrong SSN.

Do you know why they make you publish it?

cereal: you get a new SSN? That will be a bitch to remember.