Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!Glacier!oliveb!tymix!adams
From: adams@tymix.UUCP (Christina E. Adams)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.women
Subject: Re: Name Changes
Message-ID: <509@tymix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Sep-85 13:40:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: tymix.509
Posted: Tue Sep 10 13:40:14 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 23:17:32 EDT
References: <139@rruxa.UUCP> <10060@ucbvax.ARPA> <451@mtxinu.UUCP>
Organization: Tymnet Inc., Cupertino CA
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Xref: linus net.legal:1951 net.women:6881

> In California, it's legal to use *any* name you choose, so long as
> it's not to defraud anyone.  This is *not* true in all states. 
> The Feds, however, don't accept anything but a birth certificate,
> court order, or marriage certificate when verifying names for
> passport applications.  I don't know when else they're that picky.
> 
> -- 
> Ed Gould                    mt Xinu, 2910 Seventh St., Berkeley, CA  94710  USA
Ed is right.  Changing your name in California is trivial.  I just went through this when I got married in February I decided to change not only my last name
but my first and middle name also( for reasons not relevant to the point).
The only real hassle was the bank. Though, the FEDS may not be as picky as
you may think.

I had this silly idea that I could order new checks and by the time I got back
from my honeymoon everything would be all done, right? WRONG!  The banks here
want to see documentation of any name change. Or, two pieces of ID in the
name you want to use.  It got pretty confusing.  I thought I was going
to have to go the legal route which would have been around $150 here in 
California.  However, I first purchased a book called "How to legally change
your name in California".  As stated before, you can legally use any name
you want, as long as you don't do it for fraudulent purposes.  So the 
drivers liscence was easy.  They just asked what name I wanted on my liscence,
and put it on, not changing the number.  They didn't require ANY proof of
name change.  Its amazing, after you get a drivers liscence, you can get
your name changed on ANYTHING.  The book, which cost $9.95, gave many
ways to do this, including the court thing. It also had a form called
"DECLARATION OF LEGAL NAME CHANGE"  which you fill out with your old
name, your new name, birthplace and birthdate.  You sign it and have
it noterized (about $5).  This little piece of paper was (to my surprise)
acceptable to the FEDS.  SSA accepted it, though granted, they wanted to
see the original, and I even used it for my  passport.  Now, the one thing
I don't have is a new birth certificate.  Though, with my name correct now
on my passport and Social Security card and my drivers liscence, I cant
see where I'd have any problems.

I didn't have to put an ad in any paper or even file this piece of
paper with the courts.  I just kept it. And presented it as needed.