How To Change Name After Marriage In Texas

Use this guide to navigate the proper noun alter process in Texas.

Changing your name in Texas requires going to courtroom, except in a few situations. If you become married or divorced in the state, you lot can change your name without filing a separate name change petition. You can simply change your name in your marriage license or in your divorce prescript.

In Texas, you tin can change your first, middle, or last name—or all of them—provided you run across the requirements. You can even add a name to your full name if the courtroom allows it. If you change your proper noun, no ane else's proper noun changes—each petition is for the bidder just, then your children's names don't change.

Hither's what you demand to know to alter your name in the Lone Star Land.

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Requirements To Change Your Name in Texas

To change your proper noun in Texas, you must meet the post-obit requirements and show proof that:

Y'all're at least 18 years old
You're filing your petition in your canton of residence
Yous're not filing with intent to defraud anyone or to avert creditors
Your new proper name is not vulgar
Your proper noun alter is for a good reason, as granting the proper name alter is at the discretion of the court
Y'all haven't committed a felony
If you have committed a felony, y'all've either been pardoned or it'southward been 2 years since your release from prison or completion of probation
You're not a sex offender
If you are a sex offender, yous've notified your local regime that you want to change your name
You've provided proof of any felonies and Class A and B misdemeanors to the court

Process To Change Your Name in Texas

Proper noun changes take anywhere from a few days to six months, depending on how busy your local district court is. How to do a name change includes the following steps:

one. Consummate the adult proper name alter petition.How to fill out the petition is cocky-explanatory, simply make sure you become the adult petition because there are split up petitions to change a child's name. Besides, put a checkmark at the top in the box before the words "Commune Courtroom." Don't sign the petition until yous see a notary, who must witness your signature.

Pay the filing fee, unless you filled out a Statement of Inability to Afford Court Costs. The fee varies depending on where you live.Call your district courtroom clerk to find out how much filing the petition costs in your county.

2. Complete the guild to change an adult's name.Fill out the order simply don't sign information technology. The court volition sign it if they grant your proper noun change petition. If you lot need assistance with any of the papers, consult an attorney or an online legal service.

3. Accept your fingerprints taken.You can find out how, when, and where at the Texas Department of Public Safety, where you tin can schedule an appointment. There's a fee for getting a fingerprint card and a fee for getting an FBI background check, both of which are required past the court. You'll need to submit a personal, cashier'due south, or certified check, or a money order with your fingerprint menu and the petition.

4. Make copies of the court papers.This includes the petition, fingerprint card, the social club, and Statement of Inability to Afford Court Costs, if applicable. Make iii copies of your name change documents for your files.

v. File your papers with the court clerk.File the original papers for your proper noun modify in your county'southward commune courtroom and bring the copies with y'all, except for the order, which you'll need to bring to your court hearing. Ask the clerk to stamp your copies every bit "filed." To meet if you can e-file instead, call your commune court clerk to find out whether they permit east-filing in proper noun change cases. Don't forget to ask the clerk virtually your court date.

half-dozen. Nourish the court hearing.If you lot don't know when your hearing is, phone call the clerk. Bring the order and copies, the petition, a re-create of the fingerprint bill of fare, and proof of historic period and identity, criminal convictions, probation discharges, and any pardons to your hearing. If you aren't sure what to bring, ask the clerk to assist y'all or obtain legal advice for your name alter case. Expect the judge to ask y'all questions virtually why you want to change your proper noun, and then information technology'south a good idea to accept answers ready. If the gauge agrees to let you lot change your name, the approximate will sign your order.

7. File the order with the clerk.This is a crucial step; just considering your hearing is over, your proper name isn't officially changed until yous file the guild. Get at least two certified copies of the order from the clerk because y'all'll have to show them to different agencies.

8. Change documents to reflect your new proper name.This includes getting a new Social Security carte, commuter's license, and car registration. Y'all also need to change your name with voter registration, your banks, credit cards, mail subscriptions, your employer, and insurance companies. Update your retirement accounts, passport, businesses that send y'all bills, and whatsoever other entity that should accept your new name.

These steps take time, simply they're important. Make sure to change your commuter's license within thirty days of your name change. You can't utilise for a change to your birth document unless there'due south a mistake with the document or there's a gender change.

Other Ways To Alter Your Name in Texas

If you get married in Texas, yous can change your proper name on your marriage certificate or license without having to get to court. Y'all can go certified copies of your union license from the clerk in your local town or city.

Y'all can besides change your proper name in a divorce proceeding without having to file a separate name change petition. Allow the gauge know yous desire to use a new name and spell your new name and then information technology becomes part of the divorce decree.

Each state has its own requirements for obtaining a name change. Texas has more than requirements than some states, only if you meet all of them and follow the procedure correctly, y'all should have a new name soon.