There are many reasons for which individuals would legally like to change their names. For this, there is a legal procedure that needs to be followed that is not lengthy or complicated, just basic submission of name change forms.
Here is how you can get your name changed in Virginia.
The following point should be covered in your name change Virginia form:
- 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.
What Is a Virginia Name Change Form & How Does It Work?
In Virginia, in order to change your name, you have to simply fill a Virginia name change form which is similar to Ohio name change form and forms in other states. Virginia name change forms are provided by State circuit’s courts that allow individuals to change the name stating the right reason and follow the procedure thereafter.
How To Legally Change Your Name In Virginia?
One has to follow certain legal steps in order to legally change his or her name in Virginia depending on the reason for which the name is to be changed.
Virginia has a special court process involved with changing a name. Wondering how you change your name legally in Virginia? Here is a quick guide to help out:
Prepare the petition
Prepare the petition and present it before the notary. Sign the documents attached before the Notary as a witness.
File a petition
Now, you need to file and present the petition in any of Virginia’s local circuit courts of your city or country.
Fill out application
Now you need to fill out the name change application form and order with all necessary details for the name change. You should also have a self-addressed stamped envelope with you that will be used to send your Order of Name change, the certified petition and original petition for change.
You need to pay the required filing fee at the circuit court.
If everything goes well, no other hearing will be required, and you will receive a mail from the court with a copy of the Petitioner of a name change within 3 to 6 weeks.
When Do People Change Their Name In Virginia?
For various reasons, people have to change their names in Virginia. Some of these reasons are:
- Changing your name after marriage in VA
If you wish, you can change your name after marriage to take your spouse’s name or his surname. For this, you need to provide your new final name on the marriage application when you register for the marriage license. This will help you in changing your name thereafter and will act as proof of your name change.
- Changing a name after divorce
The best time to change the name after divorce is just before finalizing the divorce. Filing for name change way before or after the divorce can make it a whole new case requiring you to file name change petition and more paperwork.
Ask your divorce attorney to use your changed name in the divorce documents so that it can act as a proof of your name change.
- Adult name change
When you are changing name not after marriage or divorce in Virginia, it will be termed as an adult name change. For an adult name change, you need to follow the prescribed steps as mentioned above.
- Child name change
Child name change or minor name change in Virginia follows the same procedure. However, in child name change, the petition has to be filed by the biological parents of the child, the guardian or near relative if the child’s parents are deceased.
- Name change on driver’s license
Once you get your name changed, the next thing to need to do is make it reflect on all your legal identity cards. Name on the Driver's License follows a different procedure and requires a different form to be filled that is to be presented at the local DMV office.
Virginia Name Change Requirements
There are certain basic requirements that need to be followed to get your name changed in Virginia. These requirements include:
- The person filing for change name in Virginia should be residing in the country/city/state for at least six months
- The petition has to be filed in the local Circuit court of your country or city.
- For filing name change as an adult, you should be at least 18 years old or above. Similarly, you should be less than 18 years old for filing name change as a minor.
- Your file petition should include a reasonable reason for changing the name.
- You should not be changing names for fraudulent reasons, to avoid debts or any reason that seems unfit.
Virginia name change forms are not easily available. CocoSign provides numerous templates on Virginia name change forms and other different types of other documents. Explore them now.