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Originally Posted by seesaw
I actually like that idea, and wouldn't mind changing to my grandmother's maiden name. But that opens another whole can of worms for me.
I can't believe there are so many people who changed their names on here! Makes me feel better.
It costs about $400 for the filing here plus all the other notary and background check fees. Probably $500-$600 when all said and done. Here you have to file with the court, then go get a fingerprint and background check by the sheriff, then go to your hearing. If it gets approved, then once you get your final paperwork, you start notifying different agencies. I found a "how to" on the best order to do everything, because different agencies need different copies of old ID and new ID, so there's like a specific order to do it in so you don't have issues. I've heard it can take a day or it can take 3 months. Just depends.
I'm going to try and go the easy route first and just start using it as my professional name. Because I may be moving to another state soon, I don't want to have to start the process over in a new state.
Seesaw
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Wow. This surprises me. I have a bad memory, I guess, because I can't remember spending that much money. Yeah, maybe I did the notary thing but my bank offered that as a free service. Background check? Fingerprints? Don't recall that but must have done it. The point is I have become both lazy and cheap because I can't imagine going through all that trouble on top of paying that kind of money. I had more disposable income when married. Now... I would just start using another name, I think.
I never liked my original last name (it was difficult to say with my first name) and I actually hated my married last name. So...I don't know...maybe I did do all that paperwork and stuff... to get the name I knew I'd keep forever.
I took a professional name (informally) to use in freelance writing but it complicated things like who they made the check out to and social security and such so I dropped it. Good Luck. You should have the name that makes you feel good. I vote for changing one's name until one is satisfied. I did and it really worked out well.