How can you change your last name legally?

Question

I am 20 and want to change my last name to my great-grandmother's maiden name. The last name I have now is cumbersome, and causes me a great disadvantage; I also want to pay homage to my matrilineal line.

I will be home in New York from college for 4 months this summer. Is this enough time to change my last name? What are the procedures, and how much will it cost?

Thanks so much for any help you can offer!!!

Answer 1

im not sure the exact tactics for that but you could go to city hall and ask there

Answer 2

Yes, go to the court house and they will let you know everything that you need to know.  But, have you discussed this with your parents?  And, when you get married your last name will change anyway .. you might want to think about those that you might be disappointing in this transaction.

Answer 3

This is not so much an answer but an opinion. I think what you're wanting to do is wonderful. I think the patriarchal tradition is outdated and denotes women as 2nd class citizens. One of my pet peeves is when people automatically assume women are going to change their names to their husband when they marry. If you change your name to your great-grandma's, I say keep it when you marry. I plan on keeping my name when I marry and even giving it to my kids as a hyphenated name.

Answer 4

Call the clerk of the court in the county.

In my county, in California, the fee is $320. You file a petition and take out a legal notice, which runs for four weeks. (Cost of that varies, but it is in addition to the $320.) If no one objects, the judge grants the request.

The procedure is probably the same or similar in NY, but the cost and number of weeks may vary.

Once you get it, you show or mail a notarized copy to your school, doctor, DMV, bank; the Social Security Administration . . .

A note to your high school would be appropriate too, if anyone ever does a full background inverstigation on you.

You'll need a notarized copy of the change every time you apply for a passport, apply for a job, apply for a security clearance, apply for a driver's license . . .

Your college records may end up under two names, which will make getting a transcript tricky.