There are many laws in place to change your name legally. You might want to do so because of many reasons. However, this is usually found more in the case of women since they change their names when they get married and can revert after a divorce.

If you want to know how much does it cost to change your name legally, you have clicked on the correct link. This article will learn how to change your name legally in the US. You will also get to know the costs of doing so.

How Much Money Does It Cost To Change Your Name?

Changing your name can serve multiple purposes. However, before you get to the process to change your name, there are a couple of things to take care of.  Firstly please ensure you know what fees you have to pay. 

All legal procedures take time and cost money. There is no need to worry because state or public legal procedures are usually not too expensive. However, things can be a little tricky.

We know that laws in the United States can differ from one part to another. In some matters, only the state governments have the right to make laws. This is why the cost of changing names will be different from one state to another. Base charges and documentation charges remain the same. 

Other variable fees include the cost of hiring an attorney or a legal expert of your choice. These are the people who will take care of the proceedings and help you fill out documents correctly. 

If you wish to know “how much does it cost to change your name in California”, we will answer it for you. How much does it cost to change your name in Texas is another question we get frequently. So for the state of California the cost can be around $420-$450. While the cost in Texas can be $150-$300. Please remember that we gather this information from various sources on the internet. The charges may change if there are changes in the respective laws of the state. 

So, What Are The Common Fees You Have To Pay?

Some of the other fees involved are:

1. Filing certified copies of the court order and getting them approved.
2. Some Southern American states like Texas issue fingerprint cards.
3. Payment for getting your background check done by government officials.
4. Some states require you to publicly announce your name change in a small column of your local newspaper.
5. Other extra court costs differ in each state.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Name With The Federal Government

Depending on your purpose, you can change your name with the federal government in various places. They can be:

• Changing Your Name On The Social Security Card

If you want to change your name on your social security card, there are two ways to do so. However, note that both these processes are free.

• You can apply for the process of changing your name online by sending an email to the authorities containing all the documents that you will be filing.
• You can visit the local Social Security Office in person and speak with the officials.

• Changing Your Name On Your Passport

Changing your name on your passport can be done for free if you recently created your passport and it was in your possession for less than a year.

However, it will cost money if you have had it for longer than a year. It will cost you $110 for a brand new passport. Also, you can create a new passport card with the new name, which will cost you $30.

Do not forget shipping costs, since they can range from $20 to $60 depending on which state and county you reside.

• Change Your Name In Internal Revenue Services (IRS)

You can change your name in your income tax reports for free by notifying the IRS officers after legally changing your name. After that, all you need to do is file your following ITR papers use your new name instead of your old one.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Name With The State Government

Even the state government has many files and documents to change your name if you want to. They are:

• Drivers License/ Photo ID

Since the federal government does not control your driver’s license and Photo ID proof, the state government handles these requests. For this, you need to issue a new driver’s license and Photo ID proof from the state officials, paying $25 to $50 in the process.

• Voter Registration Card

The cost for changing your name on your voter registration card is free because they often get automatic updates and issues when you update your driver’s license.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Last Name After Marriage

Women change their names after a wedding. They can do so by changing their surname to match their husbands. They can also add their husband’s surname to her full name with a hyphen.

This process can be long, but it starts with creating the marriage license. This costs around $10 to $115, depending on which state you are getting married to. However, these are generally borne by the husband.

After this process is over, you need to use your marriage license and request the name change services for your documents, which have been explained in this article.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Name After A Divorce

It might seem joyous at first for women to get married and take on a new name, but divorces can be pretty painful for women as well.

You need to go to the Marriage registrar with your divorce certificate to revert your name. Then get the name change approved by the registrar. This costs the same as above – around $10 to $115 depending on your state. After that, you need to change your name in your documents and pay their respective costs.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Name To A New Name

If you want to know how much does it cost to legally change your name, then the process is lengthy. Changing your name to something entirely new out of free will can be a complex process in many states. For this process, you will need to file a court order.

You can do this by going to your local county office and visiting the clerk over there. The clerk will then help you file a name change petition. After it is filed, you will be given a date to appear before the judge in court.

However, some states require you to publish this court hearing in a local newspaper before the hearing date. After the hearing, your new name will be approved by the judge. This entire process costs anywhere between $250 to $300. However, in some cases, it can go up to $500, but never more than that.

A Short Wrap On Name Change

Now that we have reached the end of this article, we will summarise it for you. Changing your name in the United States is a legal process that depends on the State Laws. 

You need to conduct in-depth research and follow the name change loss of your particular state. 

• Many a time, you may think that your lawyer will take care of it all for you. Although you are right, but it does not hurt to stay informed, right?
• Please remember that you will have to be at least 18 years of age to change your name. You will also need a valid reason for a name change. 
• It can be marriage, gender transition, adoption, religious conversion, divorce, and personal preference.
• All citizens have to fill out a petition for name change in their local court. They have to submit the relevant documents, pay a fee, and attend court hearings. 
• After the process is complete, they will have to publish a notice of the new name in their local newspaper. 
• Anyone who wishes to object to it can come forward with their objections.
• After the name change is legally complete,  the person has to notify government agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions:

[su_spoiler title=”Q1. How Much Does It Cost To Completely Change Your Name?” open=”yes” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]The costs for changing your name vary from country to country and also between each state. For example, changing your name in California costs $435. Prices in other states can go up to $480.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q2. How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Name UK?” open=”yes” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]Changing your name in the UK is known as “Enrolling” your deed. You can change your character this way if you are above 185 years of age, with costs being approximately £42.44.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q3. Can I Get My Name Changed For Free?” open=”yes” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]Women can get their names changed when married or divorced for free by filling up the forms and submitting necessary documents to the Social Security Administration (SSA). After the papers are signed, you need to give your marriage certificate to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Q4. Is It Hard To Change Your Name Legally?” open=”yes” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” anchor_in_url=”no” class=””]It is not that difficult in most states since you do not even need to hire a lawyer. However, many people find it daunting because it takes a long time to get the change approved.[/su_spoiler]

Conclusion

Changing your name is not as daunting as many seemingly say it to be. All you need to do is notify the proper authorities about where you want to change your name. This is because all documents have different processes and prices for changing the printed name and getting a new one issued. However, changing your real name can take longer and cost more.

If you know how to change your name legally, give this article a like and share it with others!

Also Read:

• What Is Marriage Lawyer, And What Are Their Job Roles
• How Divorce Lawyers Can Help You – A Beginners Guide
• How To Get A Divorce And Its Stages – A Complete Guide