The document provides information on the process of changing a maiden name in the U.S., including associated costs, requirements for publication in a newspaper, and potential reasons for petition denial. Name changes are generally allowed unless linked to criminal intent, and specific circumstances can exempt individuals from publication. The document also mentions parental consent when changing a child's name and the need to notify the other parent in shared custody situations.

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Quick Answers About
Maiden Name Change4

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Maiden name change is a privilege available to every
adult in the US. It can be done at any age and for any
reason as long as you are not escaping the law or
intending to commit a crime.
Here are straightforward answers to common
questions asked about the process.

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How much will it cost?1
You would need to pay a fee to the court or the social
services office once you request a change of name.
There are provisions for waivers if your income is
substantially low. However, you must provide proof of
low income. Beyond the court fees paid, you need to
set aside money for publishing the petition. This
expense might not apply to you if the change is on
confidentiality grounds. However, for all other classes,
the petition will have to be published for public
scrutiny.

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How do I publish the petition in a
newspaper?
2
According to the law, you must publish the Order to
Show Cause in a public newspaper. The publication
should also capture the hearing date for your maiden
name change and any other names you use so that
anyone with an issue with the change of name can
stop or petition the court. Though people do not get
objections, the law has to be followed, and your
petition will not be granted until you publish the
details in the media.

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There are instances where you will not be required to
publish the petition. If you are changing after gender
realignment, you do not have to publish the petition. If
the change is to protect your identity because you are
under the State Witness Program, or in instances of
sexual assault, you need to indicate that in the forms
you file so that the publication bit can be skipped.

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Can my petition be declined?3
Prepare for the acceptance or denial of your
application. The reality is that not all petitions are
granted. The judge or officer in his wisdom may
decline because the justification you provided is
flimsy. At the basic level, you must provide all the
details required in the forms and petitions you file in
the court. The details you provide must be consistent
and accurate.

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The other main reasons why your petition may be
declined include:
• If it is revealed that your intention is to commit
fraud
• If your intention is to be unnoticeable by the police
or other institutions because of illicit activities
• People on parole or probation may not get the nod
for name change unless the officer in charge gives
consent. This also applies to those incarcerated.
The consent must be given in writing.

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The petition may also be returned because of reasons
relating to the new name you choose. The judge may
raise an issue with your new name because
• Picking a name that resembles that of a celebrity
or famous person will raise an issue. You are likely
to be accused of attempts to impersonate the
known personality.
• Names that are abusive or derogatory to a group of
people like race, religion, social group, etc. will not
be accepted.

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• Symbols and punctuations marks will also not be
accepted as legitimate names during change. This
will surely lead the judge to decline your request.
However, you can use the full name of a period,
coma, exclamation mark, etc as your new name.

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What of shared parents situation?4
You might want to change the name of your child for
whatever reason. Other than the child filing the
petition, it will be upon you to file it. It gets
complicated if you are sharing parental duties. The
law requires you to inform the other parent and get his
or her consent. Even when the other parent is not
sharing support duties but is recognized by official
government records as the parent, information must
get to him or her

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If there is a judgment against one of the parents, the
judge should be notified. It will be at the discretion of
the judge to make the best ruling.
If the other parent is unknown, special permission
should be sought. However, you will have to show the
effort you made to trace the missing parent. It is upon
you to convince the judge that you did everything
within your power to search for the other parent. You
might be asked to search further or use other tactics.

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