An official document of your name, such as a birth or marriage certificate, is necessary prove your name for many important purposes, for example, to get a driver’s license or passport, open a bank account, or buy insurance. If you are an adult, you may change the name you were given at birth, adoption, marriage or at divorce. You may change your first, middle or last name or add a name. When you have your name changed legally, the court order is the official document that you present to show your new name.
There are a variety of reasons you may want to change your name.
Read the reasons listed below to see if any fit your circumstances.
- Adopt a new surname typically the surname of the spouse, ahyphenated name, or some combination of parts of both surnames when you did not request such change at the time of marriage.
- Return to your maiden name or a prior surname when you did not request such change in your divorce decree.
- Change your birth name to the name of your biological or step-parent.
- Correct a writing error made while registering the name of a child at birth or adoption.
- Simplify or improve the spelling of a difficult name.
- Change a name that exposes you to ridicule or embarrassment.
- Change a name that is associated with another person, especially if that other person is a known criminal or a famous person.
- Clear up the confusion created by having the same name as a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent or other family member.
- Add a confirmation or baptism name or change your name upon religious conversion to a religious group.
- Change your name to one you choose for yourself simply because you want to.
At the Legacy Law Firm we will provide the legal guidance and legal documents necessary to change your name.
Limitations on Names Changes in Kansas.
There are some limitations to changing your name. You cannot legally change your name to avoid prosecution for a crime, to avoid paying debts, or avoid getting sued. You cannot choose a name that is a racial slur or that would include a threatening or obscene word or words. Also, your new name cannot interfere with the rights of others, such as a famous person, or be intended to mislead.