How Do I Change My Name in New York?

Q: Is a marriage certificate proof of name change in California?

Yes, a marriage certificate serves as legal proof of name change in California. When you get married, you can choose to take your spouse's last name or hyphenate your names. This document can be used to update your name on official records, including your driver's license and Social Security card.

Q: How can I prove that I changed my name?

To prove that you changed your name, you need official documentation such as a court order for a name change, a marriage certificate, or a divorce decree that includes your name change. These documents serve as legal evidence of your name change and can be used for identification purposes.

Q: Do you have an official document to verify your name change?

Yes, the official document to verify your name change is typically a court order or decree. This document is issued by the court when you file for a name change. It is important to keep this document safe, as it may be required for updating your name on various legal documents.

Q: How to get proof of name change in California?

To obtain proof of your name change in California, you can request a certified copy of the court order that granted your name change. If the name change was due to marriage or divorce, you can use the marriage certificate or divorce decree as proof. Contact the relevant court or agency for the specific process.

Full question:

In 1887 I lived in California and was devorced, On my legal records I used the name that I gave myself but not born with that name. Now after more than 22 years I have moved back to New York. Even though all my government records..like Social Security,tax forms, Medical records all have the name I used all these years...New York will not give me a drivers license because my birth certificate has my birth name not the name I have used as described above. How can I get my name changed on my birth certificate? Or how can I get the DMV in New York (Suffork County) to give me a license with the name I use for more than 22 years? I hope you can understand what I am trying to ask here. I have many forms with the name I call myself all these years but that did not seem enough for the DMV. Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for any assistance you may give me.

Category: Name Change
Date: 04/07/2025
State: New York

Answer:

The need for a legal name change may result from marriage, divorce, adoption or simply a desire to have another name. Generally, you cannot change your name for a fraudulent purpose, such as avoiding debts. Means of changing your name generally include usage (in some states using a name as your own has the affect of making it your name); court order (a court order is recommended to change your name and is required by most states); or a divorce order as proof of name change.

Sometimes a name change isn't made as part of the divorce order. When a person doesn't reside where the divorce was issued, a name change request is typically made in the county of residence. In New York, a person may change their name by filing an action in the County Court or the Supreme Court of the county in which they reside, or, if they reside in New York City, either with the Supreme Court or to any branch of the Civil Court of the City of New York, with appropriate forms.

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

How to get a copy of name change document in California?

To obtain a copy of your name change document in California, you need to contact the court where your name change was granted. You can request a certified copy of the court order. If you do not have the court's contact information, you can search online for the specific court's website or call their office for assistance. There may be a small fee for the copy.