petition for name change?

Question

How long will it take for filing petition for a name change? Is the fee ($395 + $95) per petition or per name change (if more than one name change on the petition)?

Answer 1

Yes, you will pay a filing fee to start the petition. I just processed a family name change in California and the fee was minimal. It was not the normal $395. I had a petition for adoption and an additional petition for name change. The adoption was $395 but the name change was only $40. Since I put all names onto the one petition, I did not need any additional fees. We published in the local paper for one month and then the hearing was a matter of asking a couple of questions and having the judge sign the orders.

You can get the forms from the court clerk or order them on line. Consult a lawyer if you need help.

Answer 2

Depends on what state your in. In NM you file your petition after you run an ad in the paper for two weeks. If you receive no objections or people coming forward to contest or provide criminal information your name change is granted.

Answer 3

its way less than that with legal zoom.

http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-name-change/name-change-overview.html



Then I would go to your state's website and type in name change. It will give you step by step instructions. Then you can go here to get to the social security administration and change it with them:



http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/315/kw/name%20change%20on%20ss%20card



and it explains what to do step by step. Its very simple. Once your social security card is changed, you can change your driver's license, and then you can change anything you want to.