Changing Your Name in Washington State

Washington name change forms are used by adult residents to request a legal name change. Name change petitions must be filed in the district court in the county where the petitioner resides. Petitions are not required to legally change ones name after marriage or divorce.

Overview

If you want to change your name in Washington State‚ the process you follow will depend on if youre doing it because of marriage‚ divorce or personal preference. You can file an application to change your legal name in any district court in Washington. The person requesting a name change is called the petitioner. More than 1 petitioner may be included in a single petition. For example‚ parents can file a petition for a name change for their child. You are not required to hire an attorney for a name change‚ but it is highly recommended. Attorneys can assist you in navigating the court system‚ completing the necessary paperwork‚ and ensuring that your petition is filed correctly.

If you choose to represent yourself‚ you must file a Petition for Change of Name‚ an Order for Change of Name‚ and pay the required filing fee. The petition must include your current legal name‚ your proposed new name‚ and the reason for the name change. You must also provide proof of your identity‚ such as a driver’s license or passport‚ and proof of residency‚ such as a utility bill or lease agreement. If you are changing your name because of marriage‚ divorce‚ or adoption‚ you will need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate‚ divorce decree‚ or adoption decree.

Types of Name Changes

There are four main ways to change your name in Washington state⁚ by court order‚ through marriage‚ divorce‚ or adoption‚ by common law‚ and by using a different name for professional purposes.

A court-ordered name change is the most common way to change your name. This process involves filing a petition with the court and attending a hearing. If the court approves your petition‚ you will receive a court order that officially changes your name.

You can also change your name through marriage‚ divorce‚ or adoption. If you get married‚ you can choose to take your spouse’s last name‚ hyphenate your last names‚ or keep your own last name. If you get divorced‚ you can choose to revert to your maiden name or keep your married name; If you adopt a child‚ you can choose to change your name to match the child’s name.

Common law name changes are not recognized in all states‚ and they may not be recognized by everyone. If you are considering changing your name by common law‚ it is important to consult with an attorney to make sure that it is legal in your state and that it will be recognized by the people and organizations that you will be interacting with.

Court Ordered Name Change

If you’re seeking a name change for reasons other than marriage‚ divorce‚ or adoption‚ you’ll need to obtain a court order. This process involves filing a petition for name change with the District Court in the county where you reside. The petition must include specific information such as your current name‚ the name you wish to change to‚ your reason for the name change‚ and your residency information. You’ll also need to provide supporting documentation‚ including a copy of your birth certificate‚ driver’s license‚ and any other relevant documents.

Once you’ve filed your petition‚ the court will schedule a hearing. At the hearing‚ you’ll need to appear in person and answer questions from the judge about your request. If the judge approves your petition‚ they will issue a court order officially changing your name. This order will then need to be filed with the appropriate government agencies‚ such as the Department of Licensing and the Social Security Administration‚ to update your official records.

Name Change Due to Marriage‚ Divorce‚ or Adoption

Washington State allows for a name change to occur automatically due to marriage‚ divorce‚ or adoption. When getting married‚ you can indicate your desired married name on the marriage license application. This allows for a seamless name change without needing to file a separate petition with the court. However‚ it’s crucial to note that you’ll still need to sign the application with your current‚ legal name as the marriage hasn’t officially taken place yet.

Similarly‚ if you’re going through a divorce‚ you can request a name change as part of the divorce proceedings. This involves filing a petition with the court‚ which will then issue a court order reflecting your name change. Adoption also triggers a name change for the adopted child. The adoption decree will serve as the official document that reflects the child’s new legal name.

Name Change for Other Reasons

If you’re looking to change your name for reasons other than marriage‚ divorce‚ or adoption‚ you’ll need to file a petition with the district court in the county where you reside. This process requires completing a Petition for Name Change and an Order for Name Change. It’s important to note that these forms are not available online through the Washington State Courts website. You’ll need to contact the court directly to obtain these forms.

The petition must include information about your current name‚ your desired new name‚ your reason for wanting to change your name‚ and any relevant supporting documentation. You’ll also need to pay a filing fee. Once the petition is filed‚ the court will schedule a hearing. At the hearing‚ you’ll need to appear in person and provide evidence to support your request. If the court approves your petition‚ it will issue an order changing your name. This order will then be used to update your identification and other official documents.

Filing a Petition for Name Change

To formally initiate a name change in Washington state‚ you must file a Petition for Change of Name with the Superior Court in the county where you reside. This form is available online through the Washington Courts website or you can request it from the court clerk’s office. The petition requires you to provide your current legal name‚ your desired new name‚ your reason for seeking the name change‚ and proof of your residency in Washington. You’ll need to provide documentation like a driver’s license or utility bill to verify your address.

Along with the completed petition‚ you’ll need to submit a copy of your current government-issued identification‚ such as a driver’s license or passport. The court will also require you to pay a filing fee. After submitting your petition‚ the court will review your request and schedule a hearing. At the hearing‚ you’ll need to appear in person and provide evidence to support your name change request.

Required Documents

When filing a Petition for Name Change in Washington State‚ you’ll need to provide specific documentation to support your request. These documents vary based on your individual circumstances‚ but typically include⁚

• Proof of Identity⁚ A valid government-issued photo identification‚ such as a driver’s license‚ passport‚ or military ID.
• Proof of Residency⁚ Documents demonstrating your current address in Washington State. This could include a utility bill‚ lease agreement‚ or voter registration card.
• Birth Certificate⁚ A certified copy of your original birth certificate. If you were born outside of Washington State‚ you may need to obtain a certified copy from the state where you were born.
• Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree⁚ If your name change is due to marriage or divorce‚ you’ll need to provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
• Other Relevant Documents⁚ Depending on your specific situation‚ you may need to provide additional documentation‚ such as court orders‚ adoption papers‚ or a change of gender designation request.

It’s important to consult with the court clerk’s office or an attorney to ensure you have all the necessary documents. They can guide you through the specific requirements for your case.

Court Hearing

Once your Petition for Name Change has been filed and the required documents submitted‚ the court will schedule a hearing. This hearing is an opportunity for the judge to review your request and ensure there are no legal obstacles to your name change. You will be notified of the date‚ time‚ and location of the hearing.

At the hearing‚ you will be required to appear in person before the judge. You will need to provide your sworn testimony‚ confirming your identity‚ residency‚ and the reasons for seeking a name change. The judge will then review your petition and documents‚ and may ask you questions to clarify any information.

If the judge finds your petition to be in order and your reasons for changing your name to be valid‚ they will grant your request and issue a Name Change Order.

Name Change Order

After the court hearing‚ if the judge approves your petition‚ they will issue a Name Change Order. This order is a legal document that officially changes your name. It will include your old name‚ your new name‚ the date of the order‚ and the judge’s signature.

The Name Change Order will be filed with the court and will be part of the official court record. You will receive a certified copy of the order‚ which you will need to use to update your identification and other legal documents. The order also serves as proof of your name change for any official purpose.

You can obtain additional certified copies of the Name Change Order from the court for a fee. These copies will be useful for updating various accounts and records.

Updating Your Identification

Once you have your Name Change Order‚ you will need to update your identification documents to reflect your new name. This includes updating your driver’s license‚ passport‚ Social Security card‚ and any other official documents.

To update your driver’s license‚ you will need to visit your local Department of Licensing (DOL) office and present your Name Change Order as proof of your name change. You may also need to provide other documents‚ such as your birth certificate or passport.

To update your Social Security card‚ you will need to file an Application for a New Social Security Card (Form SS-5). You can obtain this form online or at your local Social Security Administration office. You will need to provide your Name Change Order and other documentation‚ such as your birth certificate or passport‚ as proof of your name change.