- 1). Draft your Petition for Change of Name. Visit your local courthouse and ask for a copy of a Petition for Change of Name from the clerk's office. Complete the forms and file the Petition. Note there will be a filing fee. The clerk will provide you a hearing date on your Petition.
- 2). Publish notice to change your name in an approved newspaper. Name changes require public notice to allow an interested party to contest the change. The clerk's office should have a list of acceptable newspapers. Publication times vary by state, but generally you will need to publish the notice for three to six weeks, several weeks before the hearing on your Petition.
- 3). Argue your case at hearing. Bring proof of publication (receipts) along with any witnesses you may wish to present. If the hearing is not contested, it will be a straightforward matter wherein the judge will question you as to your motives. If a party does object, the court will oversee a hearing where you present your case, and the objecting party is allowed to present its reasons for objecting.
- 4). Await the court's decision. The court may not make a ruling immediately after the hearing, but will consider the evidence and issue an opinion a week or two after the hearing. If successful, you must then file the approved Petition with Social Security and your state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.
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