Changing my middle name

Question

some questions about it

first off i live in tennessee

my mom is letting me do it

im 14

i hate my middle name so i wanna change it

how much does it cost?

how long does it take?

and i can take my middle name out instead of just adding a name right?

Answer 1

Yes, you can change your name any way you want it, but just one it's free. When you get married though and want to change it, it will cost you. I don;t think that much though... I hate my middle names too but they are family, so I feel yah!  

Answer 2

Yes it will cost you to change your middle name. You will have to file with the local county (state) court and you will probably have to hire an attorney. You will also have to ahve your parents sign a waiver.

You can just choose not to use your middle name, but it will still be your legal middle name.

Answer 3

Your 14! I hated my whole name at 14, just deal with your middle name its not like people need to know it unless its in a professional matter. You will grow out of hating it.

Answer 4

i don't live in tennessee but most states it is as easy as going to the social security office to make the change.  they have forms and you would need one of your parents there.  just call your local office

Answer 5

I changed mine informally when I was 24 and it was just fine until I applied for a passport last year, at age 60. I nearly didn't get it because all of my records (Driver's license, W-2's, credit cards) had the new one but my birth certificate had the old one. The State Department thought I was James Bond incarnate, ready to bring capitalistic democracy to its knees by flying to Peru. They were afraid to issue me a passport. They relented, but I had to jump through a lot of hoops.

So, I would suggest two ways to do it.

1) Just leave "Middle name" blank when you fill out anything less legal than a passport application or marriage license. (Or college application, if your high school records have it.) Ask your teachers to just call you "Elizabeth Smith", not "Elizabeth Boogerhead Smith" when they take roll. Don't put in in your soccer team sign-up, or just use "B."

When you do run into something important, take a deep breath, bite your tongue and fill in "Boogerhead". (I'm using the worst middle name I can think of for humor.)

2) Call the county courthouse and do it the legal way. In my county in California it takes 4 weeks and costs $320, plus the cost of a legal notice in the newspaper for 4 weeks. Your county probably differs in cost and length of time, but the general procedure can't be that different. Keep about 4 notarized copies of the name change document handy; people will ask for them.

You can just delete it, but then for the rest of your life people will say "Oh, you forgot to fill in your middle name". I had a friend who was in the army. He got so tired of his drill sargent calling his name as "Taylor, Charles, NMI" (No Middle Initial) that he added "Quentin" to become "Taylor, Charles Q".

Pick something pretty that you like - your mom's first name, maybe - and use it. Or. pick a classic, like Anne, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Joan or Margaret.

Answer 6

It depends on where you live.  If there is no intent to defraud you can use any name you want.  If you wish to go to court and change it there is a fee.  Also be aware that the Social Security Administration will only change names with a legal document verifying the change, ie a court order of the change or a marriage license.  Be aware that name changes can create difficulty with credit reports.  I write and also have a business, I use GeorgeAnn Leslie as my "professional" name, and when I attempted to get a credit card for the business under that name it was difficult.  Check with your local county recorders office