Our attorney here at Hildebrand Law Office, P.C. knows there are many reasons why you might want to change your name. Perhaps you are getting married and want to take your partner’s name, or maybe you want to change it to distance yourself from an estranged parent. Alternatively, you might want to change your first name to something that better reflects your identity.
No matter your reason for seeking a legal name change, you can come to our office for help. In addition, you can keep reading to learn more about how name changes work here in the state of Georgia.
- Last Name Changes – In general, it’s easier to get a legal name change if you want to change just your surname or family name. Traditionally, things like marriage, divorce, adoption, and other changes in family composition have been marked by changing one’s last name. If you are getting married or divorced, then the option to change your name will be right there on the forms, and you will not need to file a separate name change petition. This option used to be offered to women only, but now it is available to everyone, regardless of gender. To change your last name in any other circumstances, you will need to file a petition.
- First Name Changes – All first and middle name changes require a Petition to Change Name of Adult form. Unlike changing your last name, you can’t make a change to your first name as part of a marriage or divorce. Once your petition has been approved and you receive the Final Order, you can then update your identification documents with your new legal name.