Changing your name on your legal documents requires filing with a local court.
Humans have a natural curiosity about their roots. This means that when people find out they were adopted, there is a natural urge to investigate their biological family history. If an adopted person decides to look into her birth family, she is certain to find a birth name that is different from her given name. The surname will always be different, but sometimes even the first name may have been changed at adoption. If you decide that you would prefer to be known by your birth name, it is not difficult to legally change it.
Instructions
1. Find out what your birth name is. Your adoptive parents should have this information. If they will not provide it to you, try to obtain a copy of your original birth certificate. You will need to contact a government agency (the exact one varies state to state, but might be the Department of Health, for example) in the state in which you were born. If you know which adoption agency handled your adoption, you should also contact them, though they may be unable to release the information to you if the birth mother has asked that it be kept confidential. You can also try an online "reunion registry" such as the International Soundex Reunion Registry, which is dedicated to helping children and birth parents find out more about each other.
2. Start using your new name. In jurisdictions where common law is applied, you are free to start using a new name whenever you want for your own use, as long as you are not doing so for criminal purposes. Check with your local court to see what the naming laws are in your state. In California, for instance, you only have to assume a name and start using it for the change to be legal, although you will need to register the change with the court. It is when you want to change your legal name on your legal documents, Social Security card, passport and banking information that you require a legal name change to be completed.
3. Obtain a change of name form from your local court. You will need the courts to approve a legal name change in order to change your legal documents to your new name. For instance, in California, you need to complete a Form NC-100.
4. Complete the forms and gather any additional documentation that is requested in the forms. States make their own laws regarding name changes, so the supplemental paperwork that you have to include with the name change form will depend on the state. For example, when you file for a name change in New York State, you need to bring a copy of your birth certificate with you when you file. You also need to disclose any criminal record, or provide a copy of a criminal record background check in most states.
5. Pay the required fees and file the documentation with the court. This again will differ from state to state. The fee in New York City is only $65, but to file in the state of New Jersey will cost $200.
6. Post the news of the decision. This will depend on which court you file with, but most legal name changes must be posted in a local newspaper as part of the process. The court should be able to provide you with a list of publications that qualify.
7. Submit proof of your name change to the important entities with whom you deal so they can change your name on your accounts or files. For example, you will have to fill out forms and provide proof of your name change to Social Security, the DMV, your bank and your employer.
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