How to Change Your Name Legally

Those who change their name legally are often disappointed to discover that the process does not end once the court approves the name change. Once you change your name legally, you need to contact all the financial and government agencies to notify them of the change. This can be a complex process as many of these agencies have a lot of rules to prevent identity theft.

Here is what you need to do after you change your name legally.

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Who You Need to Notify After You Change Your Name Legally?

This is not a complete list of who you need to notify after you change your name legally, but it is a good starting point. Consult this checklist when deciding how many certified copies of the name change document to request. You can ask for more certified copies later, but it is much more cost-effective to get them from the start.

You will need to notify the following companies and agencies after you change your name legally:

Your employer(s)
Educational institutions
The Welfare Office
Utility companies
Telephone companies
The DMV
The SSA
The Post Office
Registrar of Voters
Banks and financial institutions
Insurance companies
Any other lenders
Federal and state tax offices
The passport office
Veterans Administration

What If These Agencies Do Not Let Me Change My Name?

No matter the reason for changing your name, you may find that you receive some pushback after you change your name legally. Family and friends may have an adjustment period, and government agencies may be slow to implement the change after you change your name legally.

If you change your name legally, then the law allows you to use your new name. Remind agencies and companies about your new name if they just make a mistake. If you believe that you are being discriminated against or the company representative is being difficult, then ask to speak to a supervisor. You are allowed to change your name legally, and you are trying to change your name with the company to make the process easier for them.