Is it a long process to change your first name?

How do I change my first and last name legally ? Where do I go for the process ?

• Answer:

  In order to change your first and last name, you will need to do a legal name change in the county in which you live. In overly simple terms, you have to file a “petition for name change” and get a “decree” from the state court. If I knew the the state in which you live, I could probably give you much better information because it is different for every state. Since I don't know what state you live in I can only give you general instructions. For example, in Wisconsin Statutes 786.36-.37 governs a name change procedure and step by step instructions along with the appropriate forms can be found on the Internet if you know what to look for. However, there are other websites that seem to offer advice and charge people just for the forms...so be careful if you decide to look for these yourself. http://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/%E2%80%A6 It's important to remember that every state does it differently so don't try to use Wisconsin forms for a Texas name change. Also, most states treat a “name and sex change” different than a regular “name change”.