Whether you’re changing your name following the event of a marriage or divorce — or if you just dislike your current name — you may wonder how much a legal name change costs.
You may face a number of fees if you decide to change your name, and those fees vary depending upon the state or county you live in. Chances are that you’ll pay anywhere from $50 to upwards of $500. But you also may have to pay some common fees for the following purposes:
- Court filings.
- Certified copies.
- Attorney or online service preparation.
- Birth certificate name change.
The good news is you won’t be charged to change your name with the Social Security Administration if you got married or divorced, were involved in a court order, or decided to for any other reason. All you have to do is fill out the Application for a Social Security Card form that you can get online or at your local Social Security office.
If you don’t have time to go through the name-changing process on your own, there are paid name-changer services that you may want to explore, such as HitchSwitch and MissNowMrs.
Once your name change is complete, you’ll need to notify certain parties as soon as possible. These include:
- The Social Security Administration
- Your State’s Department of Motor Vehicles
- Your Bank (and any other financial institutions)
- The IRS
- Voter Registration
- Your Employer
- Your Insurance Companies
- Your Doctors
- Your Landlord or Mortgage Company
- Your Utility Companies
In addition, if you have a trust, will or any other legal documents, you’ll want to ensure that they’re updated to include your new name.
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