Be it getting a new identity, making a fresh start, or even amending spelling, the residents of North Carolina might want to change their names for multiple reasons.
More often than not, the reason is either for a marriage or divorce. In these situations, no separate formalities are required.
But for reasons other than these, the applicants post a special notice expressing their intent to change their names. A name change in the NC is a long and tedious process. But if you have your documents in place, it becomes rather smooth.
The following point should be covered in your name change form NC:
- An attestation declaring that the name change is not being requested to conduct fraud or a crime.
- Sign on a notarized form consenting to the current name change or be present at the hearing date if you are a minor.
- Previous name.
- New name.
What Is a North Carolina Name Change Form & How Does It Work?
If you are looking to change your name in North Carolina for purposes other than marriage or divorce, you would be required to file a petition and get it approved by the authorities. This process is taken care of by the North Carolina name change form.
This is just one of the phases of a very extensive and long procedure, and a set of background checks follow this. How does the process work? Essentially, the applicant files a petition for undergoing a name change that also requires several notarized affidavits.
This is followed by a criminal background check that takes place at the County Clerk’s Office for completing the procedure.
How to Legally Change Your Name in North Carolina?
While there are different regulations for different name change scenarios, the following are some of the steps involved for name change after marriage in the NC:
- Step 1 – Fingerprinting
The first step involves reaching out to the Sheriff’s office to get your fingerprints done on the card. This requires a fee of $10, and you would be given the original card, which would later be used for FBI investigations.
- Step 2 – Criminal Background Check
This requires a combination of the Criminal History Request Form, along with a copy of the driver’s license and birth certificate sent to the State Bureau of Investigation with a fee of $14.
- Step 3 – FBI Background Check
The background verification from the FBI is done either online or by mail. For both the situations, the applicant would be required to file the request through the Applicant Information Form, with a payment of $18.
- Step 4 – File name change
This is where the Notice of Intent to file Name Change NC comes in. You can submit the filled up application to the County Courthouse, where the information should be displayed for ten consecutive days.
- Step 5 – Name Change Petition
The free North Carolina Name Change Form here is submitted to the court with all the information and the reason for the change of name.
- Step 6 – Character Affidavit
This requires a certificate on your character. Two residents of the county, who are not a part of your family, certify your good character in front of the Notary.
- Step 7 – Outstanding tax or child support obligations
This document certifies that you are a resident of the county and do not have any pending tax or child support obligations.
- Step 8 – Notary verification
In this step, the petition for Name Change Form and the Affidavit for outstanding tax and child support are verified by the Notary.
- Step 9 – Consolidation
All the documents from the steps above are collated, packaged, and filed at the Clerk of Court’s Office in the respective county.
- Step 10 – Filing fee
The filing fee that varies from one part of the country to another can be paid via money order or check.
- Step 11 – Court order for a name change
Once all the background checks are conducted, and there are no objections to the petition, the court will release the name change order and the name change certificate. The latter can be used for updating other documents.
When Do People Change Their Names in North Carolina?
Here are some of the popular reasons for NC name change:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Gender reassignment
- Evading a dark history or past
- Dislike for a certain part of the name
- Amending the spelling of the name
North Carolina Name Change Requirements
A name change NC petition can be filed by an adult, either for him/herself or for a minor. These are the requirements:
- Documents – Driver’s license, state identification card, voter registration card, a utility bill to confirm your address.
- Proof of good character – Notarized affidavits submitted to the county clerk.
- Notice – Giving the others a chance to object to this change of name.
- Name change petition – North Carolina name change form with all the details populated.
A name change requires a lot of appropriate documentation. More often than not, these requests are not denied unless the individual is trying to escape paying off a debt or escape crime or unethical activities. CocoSign has multiple formats and templates for a free North Carolina name change form that you can make use of to file the petition.