South Carolina, like many other states such as California in the US, allows its residents to legally change their names. This may be because of a marriage, divorce or any reason at all. However, before a sc name change request is granted, some requirements have to be met.
This article discusses what a South Carolina name change entails, the requirements to be met, and what the common name change cases are.
The following point should be covered in your name change form SC:
- An attestation declaring that the name change is not being requested to conduct fraud or a crime.
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Sign on a notarized form consenting to the current name change or be present at the hearing date if you are a minor.
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Previous name.
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New name.
What Is a South Carolina Name Change Form?
A South Carolina name change form is a legal document completed and filed at a local probate court by a SC resident who wishes to change his/her name for any legal reason.
The easiest time to change one’s name is when he/she is tying the knot. This is because unlike in other cases where the individual has to fill a Petition for Change of Name form and go through some tedious processes, all that is needed for a name change after marriage SC is a marriage license or certificate.
How to Legally Change Your Name in South Carolina?
Here are the processes involved in legally changing one’s name in South Carolina
- Go for a background check. Your fingerprints will be collected by a local law enforcement agency and cross checked against a criminal database
- Download and complete the Consent to Release Information Form
- Complete Petition, Affidavits and Hearing Request
- File Petition
- Download and complete Family court cover sheet. You are required to bring this form along to the court on your hearing date
- Attend a hearing. In some cases, this is only optional
If the judge deems the name change lawful and reasonable, he/she signs a Name Change Order. You can obtain certified copies of this Name Order from a court clerk and take to necessary agencies to update your details.
What Are The Common Name Change Cases in South Carolina?
The most common name change cases in South Carolina are marriage and divorce. A woman may want to take up her husband’s last name after marriage or get back her maiden name after divorce. The approved marriage decree can be used to update one’s social security and driver’s license details.
Another common case is changing the name to fit a new gender identity.
Limitations and Requirements in Changing Names in South Carolina
For your name change in SC to go through, the following requirements must be met:
- You must reside in South Carolina
- The name change request must be filed with a family court if the reason for the name change is anything outside marriage or a divorce
- Your civil rights must not be suspended at the time of filing for the name change
- The name isn’t changed to evade any debts or taxes
- The name isn’t changed to skimp out on child support
When it concerns a minor, the court needs to obtain a written letter of consent from adults with legal rights over the child.
Outside marriage or divorce, you can’t change your name without going through the legal name change process. Marriage or not, changing your first name would usually involve submitting a petition to a family court. Couples who want to pick up an alternative last name also have to go through the same process.
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