Free New York Name Change Petition and Order

You must get a certified copy of your birth certificate and attach it to your Petition. If you don't have a copy of your birth certificate, you can use Rocket Lawyer's Birth Certificate Request Letter. If you cannot get a copy of your birth certificate, you can attach copies of certified medical records from the time of your birth. Otherwise, you will need to get a certified letter from the department of vital records indicating they do not have your birth certificate on record.

Once the Affidavit has been filed, your name change will be final. However, it is your responsibility to change your name with the government agencies like the Social Security Office and the Department of Motor vehicles. For the Social Security Office, you will need:

• Social Security form SS-5 (which you can fill out in advance or in the Social Security Office).
  
• A Certified Copy of your Order Granting Name Change.
  
• Proof of identity (like your current driver's license or passport).
  
• Proof of age (like your birth certificate).

The staff will verify your personal documents and give you a certificate showing that the Social Security Office has approved your name change. Alternatively, you can mail the above documents to your local Social Security Office and you will receive your new social security card by mail, along with your original documents.

Your Certified Order can also be used at the Department of Motor Vehicles to change your name on your driver's license while you wait for your new social security card. You have to do this step in person at your nearest New York Drivers License office. Your new license and Social Security card should be mailed to you within six weeks. These new forms of identification and your Certified Order or Certificate of Name Change may be used to change any remaining forms of legal identification, like your passport.

If you have been convicted of any crime, in any state in the U.S., you need to list all of the information for each conviction. Your charge, case number, court, and county should be listed on your final Judgment. This information may also be listed on parole or probation records.

In your explanation, you should be as concise as possible. A judge will be reviewing your request. Use the explanation box to let him know the circumstances surrounding your conviction. How long has it been since your last conviction? What have you done to rehabilitate yourself? Keep your explanation to four or five short sentences.

If you have been sued by a creditor and their action was granted, you have had a money judgment entered against you. The money judgment requires you to pay the creditor that sued you. If you did not have the money to pay, the creditor may take out a lien against your property. Certain cases restrict liens to personal property. However, if you have been notified that a creditor is suing for money owed, this is an action. If a creditor's suit was granted, you have a judgment against you. If you could not pay the creditor, the creditor may have taken a lien against your property.

In your explanation, list all judgments, liens, and actions against you. List the creditor suing, what stage the suit is currently, and the amount of money involved. If there is a lien, list the property currently under lien.

After your name change Order is granted, you need to have a Notice published in a newspaper that is circulated in your town. The paper must be circulated throughout the town and county where you live. Your Notice must only be published one time. However, you must have it published within 20 days of receiving your Order. If possible, choose a newspaper that is circulated daily and is available to most residents. If you have questions about newspapers for your area, call your Circuit Court Clerk's office for a list of approved newspapers, or ask when filing your Petition. You must file an Affidavit of Publication within 40 days of receiving your Order certifying that your Notice was published within 20 days.

This Petition is used to request a legal name change in the state of New York if you are not recently married or divorced. See the Free Legal Help section for information on how to get a legal name change after marriage or divorce.

This interview process will complete all the forms you will need to complete the process, including a letter to send to your local newspaper. After creating your legal documents here, the steps you will need to complete your name change are:

• File a Petion, Order, and Request for Judicial Intervention
  
• File the signed Order for Change of Name
  
• Publish Notice in local newspaper
  
• File an Affidavit of Publication
  
• Change your name with various government agencies

A pending proceeding is one that has been filed but has not yet been ruled on by a judge.

An assignment for the benefit of the creditor is basically a bankruptcy proceeding held at the state level rather than under federal bankruptcy laws.

If you have any pending bankruptcy, insolvency, or assignment proceedings against you or your business, the judge will need an explanation of the location, court, creditor, case number, and amount of money involved. The judge is less likely to grant your name change if you have pending proceedings because it may adversely affect the proceeding. However, this decision is at the discretion of the court.

There are many reasons to petition for a legal name change. If you want a legal name change because you are recently married or divorced, you do not have to file a legal name change petition. See the Free Legal Help section for information on how to get a legal name change after marriage or divorce.

When requesting a legal name change, you need a brief and honest reason for your request. It may be as simple as: I do not like my current name and I would prefer to change it legally. If you have a security reason for changing your name, list the reason concisely.

In order to file a document, you need to take the original and 2 copies of your document to the Clerk of Court's office for your Supreme Court in your residence county. The listing of courts and Clerk's offices are available here . Tell the Clerk you wish to file your document and receive a stamped copy. There will be a fee for each filing.

1. File your Petition, Request for Judicial Intervention and Order with your Clerk's office first. The Clerk should assign you a case number. You will use this number on all other documents related to your name change. Make sure you get a stamped copy of all documents.

2. After the judge has had time to review your request, the court will mail you the signed Order or a letter rejecting your request. If you are rejected, there should be a reason listed. If you can correct the problem, you will likely be granted a name change on your second try.

3. If the judge returns the Order to you, it will be your responsibility to file the Order with the Clerk's office just like the Petition. Make sure you get a certified copy of the Order before you leave the courthouse. You will need this certified copy to complete your name change.

4. Next, you have to mail the Notice request to your local newspaper along with a copy of the signed Order and a self-addressed stamped envelope within 20 days of receiving your Order. Your Notice must be published within 20 days. After your Notice has been published, the newspaper should return a proof of publication to you in the paid envelope. If you do not receive the proof of publication within one week of publication, it may be a good idea to call the newspaper and check on it.

5. Within 40 days of receiving your signed Order, you must file an Affidavit of Publication along with your proof of publication. It is also a good idea to take a copy of the actual publication with you as well. The Clerk's office should have blank copies of the Affidavit for you to fill out in their office. Make sure you get a stamped copy of the filed Affidavit for your records. Once the Affidavit is filed, your name change is final. However, you still have to change your name with the government agencies.