There are a number of reasons people change their names, and West Virginia law allows people to change their names by formally petitioning the court and advertising the name change. In some cases, such as marriage, adoption or divorce, you may be able to avoid advertising the name change. If you're unsure of how to proceed with your name change, an online document review service can complete the forms for you, and an attorney can help you if anyone objects to your name change.
Determine if you need to file a formal name change petition. If you are a woman getting married, you can add your changed name to your marriage license application. If you are getting divorced, your divorce attorney can ask the judge to incorporate your changed name as part of the divorce decree. Parents who adopt children can change the child's last name as a part of the adoption proceedings.
Read More: How to Change Your Name if a Marriage Certificate Does Not Have Your Married Name
Visit the circuit court in the West Virginia county in which you have lived for at least one year and ask the clerk for a name change petition. Fill out the entire form and include your reason for changing your name. If there are any documents that support your request, include those. For example, if you are recently divorced and wish to change your child's last name to yours, documentation that the other parent is uninvolved or has lost custody could be helpful.
Return the petition to the clerk and pay the filing fee. If you are requesting a name change for a minor child -- generally someone who is under 18 in West Virginia -- you must serve the child's other parent with the petition so that he has an opportunity to object. Ask the clerk to have the sheriff serve the other parent. There may be a service fee associated with this.
Advertise the name change petition as a Class I legal document in a local newspaper. West Virginia law mandates that name changes must be publicized. The notice should give your current name, the change requested and the date of your name change hearing.
Attend your name change hearing. You will receive a notice from the court about the time and place of the hearing. At this time, anyone who objects to the name change will be allowed to voice objections, and you may respond to the objections. If no one objects, the judge will sign an order stating that your name has been changed. Forward this order to the Social Security Administration, the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Vital Records.
Warnings
In West Virginia, men are not permitted to change their name upon marriage without filing a name change petition.
In West Virginia, you may not change your name to avoid legal obligations such as debts. Convicted felons and sex offenders may not change their names. Changing your name to avoid detection or to cover up crimes is impermissible.
Tips
You must be over the age of 18 and must have resided in the county where you are filing for the name change for at least a year before filling out a petition for name change. You may also file in a county where you were born or married if you lived there for at least 15 years.
When the marriage license is granted, the clerk of court will forward your changed name to the DMV, Social Security Administration and Office of Vital Records.
References
- Change of Name; Nasreen Pearce
- Cases and Materials on Family Law; Judith C. Areen
- West Virginia Code: Chapt 48. Domestic Relations. Article 25. Change of Name
Writer Bio
Brenna Davis is a professional writer who covers parenting, pets, health and legal topics. Her articles have appeared in a variety of newspapers and magazines as well as on websites. She is a court-appointed special advocate and is certified in crisis counseling and child and infant nutrition. She holds degrees in developmental psychology and philosophy from Georgia State University.