Could I Change My Last Name?

Question

Ok, my curret last name is "Morris" and since my Fathers side is like "trash", "drug attics", and so bad its a shame to have the name morris. Everyone knows where I live that all the Morris's are drug attics when its just me tthat'snot. My mother's maiden name was "Walker". TThat'sthe name I want for me and soon to be "family". The Walker are known as not trash, nice, and stay away from drugs and are just normal. Could I change my last name to Walker? and please don't yell at me for the stuff I said about my father's family. He even say they are to. The police have already ccaught them 8 times and then they paid off the fine. So, could I change it to Walker? thanks so much!

Answer 1

First, you cannot spell.  The word is "addicts" not "attics".

Second, this is a legal question, not a genealogy question.  You are in the wrong forum.

Third, if you are at least 18, you can change it.  If not, you will need parental consent to change it.

You need to contact your county courthouse for the laws and fees for this in your area.  Not the genealogy forum.

Answer 2

Sure, so long as you're eighteen. If you're not, you need to get your father's permission.

Answer 3

Yup, you can.

Answer 4

Sure, if Cornelius Crane Chase can become Chevy Chase, and Gladys Leeman transform herself into Kristie Alley, there's nothing to stop you from changing your last name from Morris to Walker once you are 18 years of age or older in the United States; in England and Wales, you need to wait until you are 16.

In the US, common law allows you to be employed, do business, enter into contracts, and sue and be sued under any name you choose at will.  Such a name change carries the same legal weight as an act decreed name change as long as it is not done for fraudulent purposes.  However, most people who change their names prefer to go through a court ordered name change.  One you have officially changed your name, you must notify Social Security, the post office,  the department of motor vehicles in your state, as well as your employer, bank, and physicians as well as officially changing your health, auto, and life insurance policies and your credit card accounts.

The following links provide legal name change forms as a service:

http://www.namechangelaw.com -- Name change for adult (self-prepared): $39.95; Name change for adult (prepared by a paralegal): $79.95.  

http://www.uslegalforms.com/changeofname  -- ($129.00)

There are also numerous sites available that offer this service on line for different states.

For citizens of the UK, this link explains the change of name process:  

http://www.namechangeuk.info

The most common name to change your name in England and Wales is by deed poll as exlained in this link:

http://www.ukdps.co.uk/Introduction.html

P. S.  To make a better impression on line, use your spell check  and proofread.  After all, you're going to be a self-made Walker.

Of course, you could just start using your mother's maiden name before your current last name.  For example, since Mary Ann Miller's mother's last name is Johnson, if she wishes to emphasis her relationship with her mother's family she could simply start writing her name is Mary Ann Johnson-Miller.