How can I change my birth name on my birth certificate?

Full question:

I was born in 1944. My birth Certificate has my birth name. When my mother re-married in 1947 she never changed my last name legally but gave me my step-father's last name. I have been known by that last name since. I want to go back to my birth name on my birth certificate. How do I do that?

Answer:

The process to change your name begins by filing a Petition for Name Change in the Superior Court where you live. The court will issue an Order to Show Cause regarding the name change, which details your petition. This order will require interested parties to appear in court to explain why the name change should not be granted. The Order to Show Cause must be published weekly for four weeks in a designated newspaper.

If no objections are filed, the court may grant the name change without a hearing. If there are objections, a hearing will be held, and the court will consider all parties' input. The court has the discretion to either grant or deny the petition. Once the Order granting the name change is signed, you can officially use your new name.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Your legal name does not have to match your birth certificate. However, if you wish to change your legal name to match your birth name, you must go through the legal name change process. This involves filing a petition in court and obtaining an order for the name change. Once granted, you can use your new name legally.