Name change law is the branch of legislation that allows individuals to change their legal names. Almost all nations have established some form of name change law. In some jurisdictions, it is a simple process requiring little to no paperwork, while in others it is a complicated process that may require a judge’s approval. Most nations will easily allow a married woman to change her last name, the most common case of name change, but will have stricter requirements in other cases.
People have changed their legally given names for hundreds of years for a variety of reasons. Monarchs sometimes changed their names upon assuming the throne, as did monks and nuns on joining religious orders. Married women have been taking their husbands’ last names in European and American societies for centuries. In the 20th century, many new reasons for name changes arose, including changes in family status, religious conversion, or even professional requirements. Name change law has had to adapt to take these new cases into consideration.
In the United States, name change law varies by state and sometimes by local community. In general, individuals can change their names simply by adopting the new name in everyday usage. State and business organizations may require legal documents to recognize the new name. It is advised to change Social Security or driver’s license information first, as these are the most common documents used to establish identity. This common procedure is usually a simple process, although it will involve some paperwork.
Other nations have different requirements built into their name change law. In the United Kingdom, a document called a deed poll becomes legal proof of a person’s new name, but past documents such as birth certificates cannot be changed. Some countries require a legal proceeding, and a judge must accept the person’s reason for the name change. The difficulty of this process varies according to factors such as bureaucratic complexity and local tradition. Usually, married women taking on new names are exempt from this process.
Most jurisdictions include some restrictions in their name change law. For example, most do not allow name change for fraudulent purposes, such as avoiding debt or criminal prosecution. An individual cannot change a name to one belonging to someone else if that could lead to legal confusion or allow identity theft. Names that are deliberately offensive or confusing, such as containing numbers or obscure symbols, are also rarely approved. Conversely, most courts will allow a person to change a given name that regularly exposes him or her to confusion, ridicule, or harassment.