Legally changing your name

bluebear wrote: Has anybody legally changed their name, or know the process to do it? I have a fad name, and I hate it. I don't even put my name on Facebook or tell people online what it is (even people I've known for YEARS) because I hate it so much. If I change my first name, what problems will I run into later in life, like for getting a job, buying a house, etc. My mom took out a space in her first name and gave herself a middle name but I think she just started writing it like that one day without going through the process.

cameragirl21 replied: As far as I know, this is done in court whereby you pay the filing fee, which is likely to be between 200-300 dollars and ask the judge to allow your name change...I don't think it's complicated, people do it everyday. If you hate your name, then you should change it, the sooner you do it, the easier it will be.
As for future implications, on job applications, you will be asked to list other names you have had but this is only to check references so if you are just getting started in the working world then it won't matter and you won't have to list it, other than to have them check for your high school diploma, which you can show someone as proof.
I say if you want to change it, go for it...what do you want to change it to, do you have a name in mind?

bluebear replied: Thanks for the quick reply.
I have something set in mind, but I want to wait a few years and if I still want that as my name, I'll do it, kinda like a tattoo.
I'm just tired of my name being butchered whether it's on the phone or in everyday life. I had a teacher that went the entire year asking me if he was saying it right everyday. The worst I've gotten is Malaysia, and that's nowhere close to my name nor does it start with an M. It's not like it's spelt phonetically like Jordan is Jawden.
Maybe that's why I'm so rude when people say it wrong.

Can you get a letter just as your first name, like B?

cameragirl21 replied: you can get whatever you want, including a letter, as long as it's not something indecent, like an expletive. A woman who went vegetarian (not me, even though I am a vegetarian) legally changed her name to goveg.com so that everyone who addressed her would have to say it out loud, thereby encouraging conversation about vegetarianism. I am a diehard vegetarian but I am not that committed, plus I love my name.
I think you would regret changing it to just a letter because that would lead to a lot questions. I would suggest thinking of a name you like, one that you feel suits you and changing it to that.

bluebear replied: Well when I get a job (that's a big if) I want my name to be abbreviated with my first and middle name (which I'm going to change- I feel that you should NEVER name your child after somebody dead but hey that's just me) like someone would do for AJ, alex john or whatever, but what I want are two uncommon letters, like TG.

What happens with your social security card when you change your name? Do you get the same number?

cameragirl21 replied: As far as I know, yes, you'll get the same number. I am Jewish and we always name our children after someone who has died so to me it's normal, it's how we honor the dead. If someone died young, like from unnatural causes then when we name our children after that person it's assumed that the child will get to live out the additional years the person for whom s/he was named missed out on.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Years ago my mother had my last name changed from my father's name, to a hyphenated last name with her own last name. As if my name wasn't long enough before..

I also really hate my first name. It's french, and gets massacred ALL THE TIME.

Now I'm REALLY curious. What's your first name? lol

luvmykids replied:
You have to change it with the SSA and get a card. There's a form on their website.

A&A'smommy replied:
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-3-2006-85330.asp

bluebear replied: What do they mean by take out a newspaper ad?

Calimama replied: I imagine it's pretty simple. I wonder if you have to pay for it though? I'm not a huge fan of my name either but I don't mind it TOO much.

redchief replied: I had this page bookmarked for an old job I had. It still worked.

http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/courts/form...e/changenamenj/

This is what you have to do in NJ. It's a little different in every state. Your municipal or county clerk should be able to help you with the particulars in your area.

bluebear replied: bump, I want to do this asap now except change my middle name which I absolutely HATE. do I go to the town court? how long is this process going to take? I can't stand having such a bad name anymore, it's killing me inside.

Calimama replied:
You should probably call the court house and try to get those answers from them. Good luck!

youngmomofone replied: Good luck with your name change.

In the next year we are going to do it for dd. She does not have a middle name because we couldn't think of one/decide on one. Finally we have one to give her, but going to wait to save up money for it.