Why Change Your Name?
There are a handful of reasons to change your name, and where you go depends on why. Commonly, name changes are for the happy newlyweds, wives taking their husband’s last names till death do them part. Women have been taking their husband’s last name since all the way back to the 15th century! Divorce or other reasons such as preference, personal identity, or religious reasons.
Marriage or Divorce:
For marriage or divorce, the process is pretty much smooth sailing. You will take your marriage certificate or divorce file with you to the SSA office, where you will fill out an SS-5 form, (aka) a request for a new social security card. When those are turned in and your new card with your new name is issued, you can take it to the DSC/DMV and issue yourself new identification cards. Prices range from $18-$28 per card. Of course, there is no legal requirement for you to change your last name when married, in fact, almost 20% of women don’t! It wasn’t until the 1970’s that states across the country started implementing laws to make it easier for women to keep their surname.
Gender-Confirming or Other Personal Reasons:
The process for personal and other reasons are a bit more difficult. You start at the local chancery court clerk. There, you will request an Adult Name Change form, where you will fill out necessary information, as well as why you are changing your name. When you finish filling out any paperwork, you will drop it off at the same place with a cashier’s check of anywhere between $160-215, making sure to bring all the official documents with you! Once that is done, you will wait for your court hearing, which takes up to 4 weeks after your initial petition submission. You’ll be sworn in so the presiding judge or magistrate can ask you questions, mostly pertaining to things like debts and identity, to ensure you are not changing your name to evade the law. If your petition is granted, an order for a new birth certificate will be issued with the new name. After that, the hardest part is done. All you have to do now is take your documents with you to the SSA office to order a new social security card, then you can go to the DSC/DMV to order new Identification cards. Prices are about the same, ranging anywhere from $18-$28 per card.
Extra:
Remember: You need all official documentation, no copies!
Remember: If you are changing your name to something more gender-affirming, in the state of Tennessee, you cannot yet change your sex on your birth certificate, even if you’ve had gender-reassignment surgeries.
Remember: Under T.C.A 68-3-203, if you request to change the name on your birth certificate, “the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show the new name,” notice ‘amend’ rather than ‘replace.’ Here in Tennessee, to amend your birth certificate, the birth name will be slashed out, with your chosen one above it.
DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this article is to provide the general public with general information related to legal issues. None of the information provided within this article is intended to be construed or relied upon by any person(s) as legal advice. Further, reading this article does not create an attorney/client relationship between the reader and the author. If you need legal advice, it is recommended that you speak with an attorney who is licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction and practices the subject matter for which you are seeking legal advice.