Changing your name used to be rather simple. People use to just pick a new name, start using it, and ask government agencies like the DMV and Social Security to change your name in their records. After a while, your new name would become your “official legal name”.

This is still done today, however it is highly recommended to do it the professional way through court proceedings. Today, because identity theft and fears about terrorism have become more frequent, most agencies will require that you have a court order changing your name before they will change the records. The exception to this rule is for marriages and domestic partnerships. Couples may take their marriage license to these agencies and will be granted a name change.

So can you change your name to anything you want? Almost, but not quite. You may not change your name to the name identical to a famous person if you are doing it for fraudulent purposes, to benefit financially, or to give the person a negative reputation. You also may not choose a name that is also known as a racial slur or “fighting words”. Additionally you cannot use fictitious names that are protected by copyright such as names like Clark Kent (Superman) or Bella Swan (Twilight Saga).

As directed by the San Diego courts, in order to change your name you must first file a Petition for Change of Name and pay the filing fee. After you file this petition, you will get a court date on your Order to Show Cause for Change of Name that will be between 6 and 12 weeks away.

You must then publish your name change request in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks prior to your court hearing. Note that if you’re changing a minor’s name and you aren’t the only legal parent, you’ll need the other parent’s permission to make the change, or else you’ll need to deliver court papers to that person and then argue in front of the judge for why the name change is in the minor’s interest. The minor does not have to be present at the hearing.

You must bring the following with you to court:

• Copy of newspaper publications
• Completed Decree of Name Change form NC-130
•  For name change of a minor, Proof of Service to the non-filing parent if petition is filed by one parent.

The court can choose not to approve the name change for certain reasons. They can choose not to do so if they believe the request is for fraudulent purposes or to hide from police officials.

After your name change has been approved, you can obtain a certified copy of Decree of Name Change. You can take that court order to any agencies and institutions that have records about you, and ask them to change your name in their official records.