I wanna change my last name

[Deleted]

How much of a pita is it going to be?  Do I need an attorney to do it?

and what should I change it to?  I hate my maiden name but that's an option.  My mom said I could change it to whatever I want so I thought what about Star or Champagne or just some random last name like Smith or Green or we were joking at work I could change it to the really long crazy last name of our CMO.  Wouldn't that be nuts.  Or I could change it to Rockefeller or Kennedy.

i don't know.  Maybe I should just go by my first name only.  Or change my name to a symbol

or if I was dating someone I could freak him out and change my last name to his.

or my mom's last name (from stepfather) or she actually has a very cool maiden name

eta:  this is why I haven't changed my name!!!  I can't decide what to change it to!!
but after the shit my XH just put me through I don't want his name anymore

i have a weird first name and it's hard to find something that goes with it

[dragon's breath]

It's easiest to do it during the actual divorce (and less expensive), but you can do it yourself. I did mine back to my maiden name, and it was around $600 (about 13 years ago). I used a lawyer, had to get a new license and social security card, then change it over at bank accounts, work, etc, but it really wasn't *that* bad.

I've told my son when he turns 18 I'll pay to change his. He told me years ago he doesn't want his father's last name, but the divorce paperwork says I'm not allowed to change it or let him go by anything else until he's an adult. He'll turn 18 his senior year, and I think it would work out best for him if he does it to do it before he graduates. I don't know if he'll use my maiden name (it's rare in the states) or do something random, but I support him losing the name he has, especially since his father hasn't tried to make any contact with him in over 7 years.

[glitzyglow]

I changed my last name to my stepfather's last name.

I really didn't find it all that difficult. I had to pay a fee, fill out the application, and then go in front of the judge to explain why I wanted to change my name (it was on the application...I just repeated it). I found changing my name on everything was fairly easy. I just sent in or faxed the document showing my name change and it was done. I had to get a new license, but again, it was pretty easy.

I love my new last name and I am so glad I did it. I feel like it's really "me" if that makes sense.

ETA: I paid $50 to file my name change application...that was the only fee I paid.

[Deleted]

May 29, 2015 18:44:16 GMT -5 RamblingRose said:

Here in TX it's a PITA if it isn't in conjunction with a marriage or divorce, plus I have never been willing to spend the $500+ to do it. But I'd go back to my maiden name in a heartbeat.

My maiden name is awful.  It's 3 syllabuls, Swedish and sounds like someone sneezing

[Deleted]

I think there's a difference between changing back to maiden name after divorce vs completely changing your last name to a new one. 
After my divorce, changing back was annoying, but didn't cost me anything but time. First stop social security, second stop DMV.  After I had drivers license it was easy.  Except for Veriz.on. Those bastards refuse to accept a fax or mailing of divorce paper and license and want me to go down to some office. I refused.  My state and national medical license accepted a fax.  The DEA accepted a fax. 

[abcdefu]

Princess Consuela Bananahammock!! Friends episode anyone?

[jellymankelly]

May 29, 2015 19:41:49 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock!! Friends episode anyone?

First name Crap, last name Bag!

[abcdefu]

May 29, 2015 20:07:55 GMT -5 jellymankelly said:

May 29, 2015 19:41:49 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock!! Friends episode anyone?

First name Crap, last name Bag!

Hahahaha! I knew I could count on someone!!!

[pinkdutchtulips]

I never changed mine JUST to avoid this kind of mess. At one point I went by both at work only in case some called about dd and they could find me (dd has xh's ln)

[MyName]

So when I got married, I wanted to change my name to Jennifer MaidenName MarriedName, and SS let me do that. BUT when I went to the DMV (in NY), they told me they couldn't change my middle name without a court order, so I ended up Jennifer MiddleName MarriedName and I was fucking pissed! I can't wait to change back to my REAL name.

Random story: I used "MarriedName" as my SN on TN because I decided to still use my maiden name at work, so I figured I would use my "married name" for wasting time at work. lol That did not work out well, but I'm "starting over" IRL, so I was not about to start over on GBCN. Hence my display name.

[Deleted]

I told my son I wanted to change my name and he got excited. He thought that meant he could change his name too! He hates his last name

[pandora]

May 29, 2015 21:50:47 GMT -5 @bk said:

PDQ

I've been looking into this myself and actually have the paperwork filled out. I'm not going back to my mn and I'm contemplating between two family mn's. I've been mulling the names for a few years and have narrowed it down to the two. I'll still feel as though I have a tie to either name and I like the names. Ironically, both names died out due to no male births carrying them on.

I'll only do this if I get preggers otherwise, I won't bother.

From what i can gather via research online, I don't need a lawyer. I need to make the request public (for objections, I guess...no idea, seems like a rule from 200 years ago) then submit the paperwork, fee and a copy of the public announcement to City Hall. Doesn't seem difficult but the publishing seems random to me for 2015.

I don't blame you for wanting to change it after all of what he's put you through. You get a clean slate with no negative ties! New beginning.

[abcdefu]

May 29, 2015 23:42:22 GMT -5 pandora said:

May 29, 2015 21:50:47 GMT -5 @bk said:

PDQ

You have to publicize your name change in the newspaper so that if you owe any creditors money, they have notice that you are no longer going by Pandora ABC, but Pandora XYZ. Most likely when you go to the court for the finalization of your name change, if you decide to go through with it, the judge will probably ask you if you are changing your name to avoid creditors. That's how it is in my state anyway.

[pandora]

May 30, 2015 5:38:30 GMT -5 abcdefu said:

May 29, 2015 23:42:22 GMT -5 pandora said:

PDQ

You have to publicize your name change in the newspaper so that if you owe any creditors money, they have notice that you are no longer going by Pandora ABC, but Pandora XYZ. Most likely when you go to the court for the finalization of your name change, if you decide to go through with it, the judge will probably ask you if you are changing your name to avoid creditors. That's how it is in my state anyway.

That makes sense, thanks for explaining! No creditors chasing me so I'm safe from that, phew. It's so easy to find people under associated names online now though but makes sense.

[jojoandleo]

I legally changed my first name. I was called my middle name my ENTIRE life and when I was going to college with 200+ people lectures, I didn't want to have to explain I go by my middle name over and over. It's different state by state, but was super easy here. One form, less than $100 filing fee, and had to publish it. Then you go to court and tell them you aren't changing your name for any fraudulent reason and BOOM! Done!

[Deleted]

Yes you can change your name to something new. When my cousin got divorced she didn't go back to her maiden name, but changed it to another family name.

Honestly, when I didn't find it that big of a pain to change my name back. I took care of the big things, social security card, drivers license and bank all on one day. I felt official after that.

I've slowly changed other things as they come up like the gym, doctor's office, etc.

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to taking care of life errands like that, so if I say it was easy, it probably was

[Deleted]

This is interesting. I am just now 2 months post official divorce date and haven't thought about changing my name. It doesn't really bother me to keep my married name as I have no ill will toward X. No kids.

Is there a certain etiquette that you're supposed to change it? Do you suppose this could be a turn-off in the dating scene? X nor his family or mine would probably ever say anything but now I wonder if this could be viewed as more than what it is (my laziness to deal with it).

My divorce papers state I can take my maiden name back so it probably wouldn't be that big of a pain or $.

[Deleted]

May 30, 2015 16:51:14 GMT -5 @blushnbashful said:

This is interesting. I am just now 2 months post official divorce date and haven't thought about changing my name. It doesn't really bother me to keep my married name as I have no ill will toward X. No kids.

Is there a certain etiquette that you're supposed to change it? Do you suppose this could be a turn-off in the dating scene? X nor his family or mine would probably ever say anything but now I wonder if this could be viewed as more than what it is (my laziness to deal with it).

My divorce papers state I can take my maiden name back so it probably wouldn't be that big of a pain or $.

I'm sure it varies by state but I think if you do it within x period of time after your divorce you don't have to pay.  It was in my divorce order but I'm 5 years out now so I'd have to pay I'm sure.  Plus I'm in a different state.