Exactly how does one go about legally and officially changing one's name?

I want to switch my first and middle names, because it's a pain in the butt going by my middle name but having half my official paperwork in my full legal name. My DL and both bank accounts, full legal name. My mortgage and credit cards, middle name only. Social Security already has me by the name I want to go by, because in the 1980s I called them and asked to change it and they... just did, no questions asked. But I never followed through on the official name change, and now there will certainly be questions asked if I try to retire with the "wrong" name on my Social Security. The IRS however has had no qualms about accepting my tax payments under my middle name only.

It's a total PITA and involves filling out a ton of paperwork and going in front of a judge (depending on the state), but it's not difficult--just tedious. Google name changing laws for your state.

I did it once to add and later to remove a middle name related to my first marriage, and I admit that I didn't even consider changing my last name when ND and I got married because of all the paperwork involved. And the whole liking my name thing, but you get what I mean.

And that makes it sound like I think you shouldn't do it, but actually I was trying to convey that it's not a big deal--just some paperwork and a fee.

Dudes, I was invited to a special TED party in New York.

Too bad they don't pay for the flights. It's a "if you're in the neighborhood" kind of invitation.

It's 70% compliment/cool thing, 30% cold slap of the reality of my back account.

Thanks, Pix. Looks like I can just go down to the County Court Clerk's office and file some paperwork, and I may not even have to have a hearing.

I want to switch my first and middle names, because it's a pain in the butt going by my middle name but having half my official paperwork in my full legal name.

My sister! All the girls in my family have my mom's middle name as their first names. We were meant to go by *our* middle name. Which causes serious problems in a world that likes to act as if middle names should only be initials, if acknowledged at all. Of course, if I legally changed my name, I think my mom would be hurt.

My brothers (as usual) have it easier. They all have my dad's name as their middle names. I asked my parents why they did this and they said it was to forestall fights between in-laws about which family names got immortalized as part of each kid's name.

Had my first leftovers from my family's T-day. Sadly, there is no pie left except for a boughten banana cream pie and a LARGE boughten pumpkin pie (still sealed). I'm consoling myself by telling myself the pies that are gone were likely boughten and nothing special. B'fast consisted of a bit of turkey, gravy & stuffing. And some of the cranberry jello thing I made. That's the nice thing about making something you like that not many others like - there are leftovers. I made it not to be selfish, but because it actually is a traditional dish from my mom's side of the family.

It's relatively silent here right now. Either my brother's family are visiting his in-laws in town or they've left. Either way, I'd best take advantage and get to the recording I've had to put off for 2 days due to lots of house noise.

Spidra, that's odd - sounds like something a Southern parent would do! (The American South, Land of Strange Names.) I think my mom would actually be happy about it - it's what she intended to name me, but she got talked out of it.

I went to a church bazaar today with the family and entered a raffle for, among other things a Wii, and I just received a phone call that I won...a pizza.

One of my dorm-mates was from a large Irish Catholic family--12 or 13 kids. All the girls were named Mary Something Lastname. So yeah, that kind of thing is done. Of course, their mom and everybody else called them Mary Catherine (MaryCat), Mary Elizabeth (MaryLiz), Mary Rose, Mary Margaret, etc. It was like polysyllabic names, the first two of which were Mary.

Teachers and folks with kids, today's Groupon is $40 worth of books from Simon & Schuster for $20. E me for the groupon.

Got the job, my Bitches!!!!

SO, SO HAPPY! See Annoucements for more deets, although I will be happily burbling for DAYS!