Marriage is only one reason people change their names.
People change their names for many reasons. Reasons for name changes include marriage, divorce and adoption. Occasionally, a person simply wants to change his name for personal reasons, such as simply not liking the name, or wanting a name that seems more meaningful or personal to his individual personality. Legally changing your name can be done in almost all cases.
Marriage
In the state of Arkansas, to legally change your name due to marriage, your marriage license must have been filed with the state after your wedding. With your certified marriage certificate you are able to change your name to that of your spouse by contacting the Social Security Administration with the appropriate documentation.
Divorce
After a divorce, many women wish to change their names back to their maiden names, rather than keeping the names of their ex-husbands. Once your divorce has been finalized by the state of Arkansas, you will receive a decree of divorce stating that you are no longer a married woman. With a decree of divorce, you may contact the Social Security Administration to change your name.
Adoption
Children in the state of Arkansas who have been adopted may have their names changed to match that of their adopted parents. Once an adoption is finalized and recognized by the state of Arkansas, a child's name may be changed by the court, which will enable an adopted parent to notify the appropriate organizations to complete the name change process.
Other Reasons
In Arkansas, you may change your name for a variety of reasons. In order to change your name for a reason other than marriage or divorce, you must petition the court to change your name. You may not change your name to escape debt or a criminal record. Your name change petition will be reviewed by the court and a hearing will be held where you can state your reasons for wanting to change your name. A judge will decided whether or not to grant your request for a legal name change.
Legal Name Change
If the Arkansas courts decide to grant your request to legally change your name, you will receive an official name change document from the court, which you will need to present to the appropriate organizations, such as the Social Security Administration. The Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles will also need to be notified.
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