How hard can it be to change your name?
You might be surprised at how hard it can be, especially if it is after a divorce. Luckily there are ways to make it much simpler. The best way to change your name in Georgia is by taking the following steps:
- Pay a filing fee with the court.
- Run an ad in your local paper for 4 weeks that notifies people of your old name and what you will be changing it to.
- Get a certificate of publication from the newspaper. Then you will have to file it with the Clerk of Court to get your hearing date.
- You and your attorney attend a hearing and explain to the judge the reasons for your name change. This is mainly so that the court can verify that you aren’t dodging any creditors or attempting to defraud someone. Keep in mind, if you are going to see a judge, always take a lawyer, even if it seems like a simple issue.
What to do after your name change
After you have changed your name, you will need to do the following as soon as possible:
- File the change of name with the Superior Court Clerk’s office.
- Inform the social security office
- Inform your bank
- Inform your employer
- Inform the DMV
- Inform your credit card companies
During a divorce case, you can request to change your name back to your maiden name or the one you had before marriage by including it in the divorce documents. When done this way, it would go into effect when the Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce is entered. This is by far the easiest way to handle it, instead of waiting until after the divorce.