Legal Name Change is fundamentally a legal procedure by which any person can acquire a new name by abandoning his or her maiden name. The norms regulating the change of name differ in different places. However, at no place the system is rigid regarding this changing of names and can be done with ease.
Legal Name Change Procedure
Let us understand this process in detail. It includes the following steps:
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In case of marriage, when the couple register their marriage, they are issued with a marriage certificate which is a legal proof for the change of name
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A very common mistake that many people make is that they assume that simply changing the name on the identification documents results in legal name change. Perhaps that is not the case. Many other formalities should be taken care of.
The criteria decided by each state for Legal Name Change is different. Some may require simply making a call to the appropriate organizations, while others might require the submission of necessary documentation along with a written letter or application. Many might require you to fill certain forms along with your attached certificate to be presented in front of the magistrate in the court.
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The most cumbersome step of the entire procedure is amending all the identification documents. Different organizations and agencies have a vast range of variance in context to the legal documents required for reflecting the name change on the fresh ID cards. This may lead to delay and also frustration between both the sides.
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The process of changing the name on the records should be carried out in a systematic and well-planned manner. The general certificates such as driver’s license, passport etc. should be amended first to make things easier for more complex documentation.
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There is a list of all the organizations that should be contacted while amending the name on the records. To name a few:
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Driving License
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Passport Office
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Post Office
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Banking and other Financial Institutions
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Water / Gas / Oil Companies
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Telephone Companies
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Voters Registration Office
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Insurance Companies
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Electricity Board
Why are people still apprehensive?
When the above mentioned list is seen, people get overwhelmed. Getting in touch with so many different entities or institutions gives them jitters. The number of forms that may be involved is also something that makes people go weak in their knees.
However, the good news is that there are many reputed online agencies that can come to your aid and handle the process of changing name legally on your behalf. The expertise of these professionals ensures that your name changing activity is done smoothly. Moreover, you will just need to fill in a simple form on their website and rest will be handled by them.
Understand that the Legal Name Change is not a very difficult procedure. It only requires patience to deal with different governmental organizations. It is always wise to seek professional help to guide you through the entire procedure in order to avoid mistakes.