Can You Change Your First Name After Marriage?

Christensen recommends signing your name as “FirstName NewLastName (OldLastName)” for at least six months after marriage. To change your name, you must obtain your marriage certificate and certified copies, inform relevant government departments such as DVLA and HMRC, and obtain a certified copy of your marriage license (a.k.a. marriage certificate).

You cannot change your first name because you got married. However, you can change your middle name if it involves one of the names on the marriage certificate. You may change your first name, middle name, and/or last name to a new name or names. Titles can be changed at any time since it is not a legal process.

The first steps in legally changing your name after marriage involve making your married name official on all of your legal and personal documents. To complete the post-wedding name change, you will need a few certified copies of your marriage certificate (we recommend requesting at least three copies) and all of your old documents.

In Canada, the name on your birth certificate won’t change, but you can change to your married name for other documents (your driver’s license, credit cards, etc.) as long as you will be using one of the accepted surnames.

In the US, you cannot change your first name due to marriage. To change your first name, you will need to file a petition for a name change through your county court. In a name change after marriage, you cannot change your first name, but you can change your current middle name if it changes to your spouse’s name.

How do I legally change my first name in Florida?

2. Petition for name change. File a Florida Petition for Change of Name and a Final Judgment Change of Name. Rocket Lawyers will create these documents for you.

3. Sign your Florida Name Change Petition. Sign your completed Florida Name Change Petition in front of a notary. They will verify your identity and have you sign the petition in their presence. They will then sign the document to verify that you signed it in front of them. Make two copies of the Florida Name Change Petition and Fingerprint Card.

4. File your notarized Florida Name Change Petition with the court. File these documents with the Clerk of Court at your county courthouse. You will have to pay a fee to file the paperwork and the clerk will give you a case number. The clerk will give you a stamped copy of the Florida Name Change Petition. Before you leave, ask the clerk how to schedule a hearing. They’ll help you schedule your hearing.

Can you legally change your first name in the US?

Changing your name. Changing your name legally is a big step. You must have a good reason to change your name. A judge must approve your request unless the name change is related to your marital status. You can change your first, middle, and last name. You can change your title (Mr., Ms., or Mrs.) at any time. It is not a legal designation. How to change your name. If you want to change your name for a reason other than marriage or divorce, you must go to court and get a court order to change your name. The process is simple, the same for all reasons, and governed by state law. How to file for a name change. Your local court clerk at your county courthouse can provide you with the forms and documents you need to request a name change. File the original documents with the court.

Can you change your first name when you get married in Texas?

To change your first name or last name, you may need a court order.

Texas law. After marriage, you can take your spouse’s last name without a court order. Most organizations in the U.S. will accept a marriage license as proof of the name change. This is true even if the marriage license lists your old name. You can only change your name to certain types of names. The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 37, Rule 15.23 governs name changes on Texas driver licenses and IDs. It waives the court order requirement if you want to:

Change your last name to your spouse’s last name; change your last name to your spouse’s last name and your middle name to your current last name; or add your spouse’s last name to your current last name in hyphenated form.

How much does it cost to legally change your first name in Texas?

3. Pay the fee. The court charges a fee to process your petition. Prices vary by county, but average around $150-$300. Those unable to afford the fee may apply for assistance. If you can’t afford the fee, you must fill out a form stating this. This form asks about your income and if you get public assistance. You also need to prove you’re taking part in these programs. You must list all your expenses and assets.

4. Complete the court order to change an adult’s name. To change an adult’s name, use the same info from the initial petition. Complete this order and leave it unsigned. The court will only sign the form if your name change petition is granted. If you need help filling out the paperwork, see an attorney or authorized online legal service. You can also visit a law library to help you fill out the paperwork.

Can I change my first and last name?

Court order. To change your name, you must file a petition with your local court. You may need to file paperwork and appear before a judge to change your name. Find your local government website and contact your circuit court to learn how to legally change your name. Notify government agencies when you change your name. Show these federal and state agencies that you changed your name by providing certified copies of your marriage and divorce certificates or name change orders.

Have a question? Ask a real person any government question for free. They’ll help you find the answer.

Is it normal to change your name after marriage?

Change your name to your partner’s. It used to be common for a bride to take her husband’s name after marriage. Recently, husbands have taken their wives’ names to keep the family name, and same-sex couples have chosen one partner’s name to keep. Discuss your name expectations with your partner before the wedding. If you take your partner’s name, you don’t need to change it on your deed poll. Just contact the right people (see our list) and show your marriage certificate, and it’s done.

Double-barrel names. This is more complicated if both partners want to change their name. If one partner wants to double-barrel their surname, they just need to inform relevant bodies by sending the marriage certificate and stating their new surname. Tell us which order you want the names in and whether you want them hyphenated.

If the name change is not simple (e.g., both partners want to change their name), you may need to change your name by deed poll. If you need to do this, one partner should change their name before the wedding. Then the other partner can use the marriage certificate to update their details as a simple name change. If you choose this, allow time for the process and to get new passports if you’re going abroad on your honeymoon.

How do I change my name on my passport?

How do I change my name on my passport? For more info, see our Change or Correct a Passport page. If you are changing your name within a year of getting your passport, fill out Form DS-5504. If you changed your name more than a year after getting your passport, fill out Form DS-82.

Travel.State.Gov U.S. Passports Passport Help Frequently Asked Questions about Passport Services.

Find answers to your questions in one of these categories:

General Questions; Children (Under 16); Social Security Number Requirement; U.S. Passport Card.

What to change when you get married?

After the wedding, there are some legal things to think about. Note on name changes. … Get your marriage certificate. … Update your Social Security card. … Get a new driver’s license or state ID. … Applying for a passport. … Update your bank accounts. … Tell your creditors. … Tell your employer.

How do I legally change my first name in Texas?

The process varies by court, but usually includes filing a petition, submitting fingerprint and supporting documents, paying an application fee, and attending a hearing. Changing your legal name doesn’t automatically update your license, Social Security card, or other records. You’ll have to update each document separately. See the page on updating your documents after a name change for more information.

Texas law. Texas residents can change their name under Texas Family Code Chapter 45. This chapter explains how to change an adult’s legal name through the courts. Subchapter B of chapter 45 governs name changes for adults.

Can I take my husband’s first name?

Many people believe that in a marriage, one spouse must change their last name to match the other spouse’s. That’s not the case today. You can keep your name, hyphenate it with your spouse’s name, take your spouse’s name, or come up with a new name. As long as the name change is not done illegally, any of these options would be legal.

Changing your name after marriage can include any of the following:

Change your name to your spouse’s last name; change your name to something else; tell people your new name.

Can you change your first name when you get married in Florida?

Changing your name through marriage. People often change their names when they marry. It’s the easiest in Florida. You can change your name on your marriage license application. The forms differ by locality, but you can just fill in your new name and list your former name. Your marriage license can be used to change your name.

Your driver’s license, Social Security card, or other documents.

A county clerk will issue your marriage license after you complete the normal Florida marriage license process.

Changing Your Name Through Divorce. You can also change your name during divorce. You can change your name during a divorce. You can do this for little or no extra cost by telling the court you want to go back to your old name.

How much does it cost to legally change your first name in Florida?

File with the Clerk at 175 N.W. 1st Avenue, 12th Floor at the NEW FILINGS window and pay the filing fee of $401.00. File with the Clerk at 175 N.W. 1st Avenue, 12th Floor and pay the filing fee of $401.00. The clerk will show you how to have your fingerprints taken.