Adult name changes are fairly simple, but must go through the court system.

• An adult wishing to change his or her name must file a petition stating the desired new name and reason for the change.
• A legal notice is published once a week for four weeks in the legal newspaper of your county. This notice gives anyone else (such as creditors) the opportunity to file an objection.

Once this process is completed, the judge signs a decree ordering your change of name. This order is used as evidence to submit to Social Security, the DMV, and other entities.