Conference quark::human_relations-v1

    Call your local city/town hall.  They could tell you what form you need
    to fill out, and whether there's a fee.
    
    
    Judi
    

    About 17 years ago there was an article in the Boston Globe that stated
    that it was not necessary to do anything legally to change your name.
    The only caveat was that your purpose for doing it should not be
    illegal.
    
    At that time I changed my name from my married name to my maiden name. 
    The only agency that gave me difficulty was the Registry of Motor
    Vehicles and I happened to have a copy of the article with me.  It
    required a lot of correspondence before the task was complete.  The
    most important being Social Security, work, Registry, Insurances.
    
    I have often thought of calling the Globe and finding out when that
    article was published as the question is often asked in Notes.
    
    J

    About 14 years ago, we paid $85.00 to add our youngest daughter's
    new first name.  It's a story in itself!
    
    aq
    

    Are you in Massachusetts?
    
    In 1984, I changed my name.  I'm looking at a certified copy of that
    form now (I'd be glad to send you a hard copy).  The form is headed
     			Commonwealth of Mass.
    			The Trial Court
    			The Probate and Family Court Department
    
    			Change of Name(s)
    
    I've forgotten what I paid, but it wasn't much.  In some cases, 
    publication in newspapers is required, but it wasn't for me.
    
    There were two of us in court on the assigned day, and we were seen
    first -- just a brief question or two from the judge.
    
    It's a good idea to have a number of certified copies of the form,
    after your petition is granted.
    
    I had everything changed:  my passport, my birth certificate, and of
    course drivers license, and credit cards.  
    
    I didn't have trouble with any of these really, although some people
    could not even imagine that I could change birth records, etc.
    
    Our names are so personally important, and I don't see why we should
    bear one we don't want.
    
    By the way, both my son and his father have had their last names
    changed, and now we have *THREE* different last names (I'm divorced).
    I use my maiden name (actually this was done as a part of the divorce
    petition).  My former husband changed his name from Schreck to
    Shepherd, giving his son the option to make this change too.  He said
    he'd keep Schreck.  Then a few years later, he changed his last name to
    Schlesinger, after a female schoolmate he knew and admired when he was
    in high school.
    
    Briana
    223-2806

    Thanks a lot all of you for the help.  I appreciate it....it's
    sure nice to have an instant community of knowledge and help 
    around you.
    
    I think I'm all set.
    
    Kimberly
    

    I sent for that Probate form to change my name back to my maiden name.
    I had noticed that one had to appear in court to do this and I
    thought, gee, why is it required that a judge decide whether it's
    ok for me to drop my ex's name and carry the name I was born with?
    This is what upsets me the most is that I have to ask permission?
    
    I was asked by the judge on the day I was divorced whether I wanted
    to keep my ex's name.  Truthfully, I was caught off guard.  I didn't
    realize they'd ask that.  I kept the name; now I want to
    get rid of it.  Later, I was told it wouldn't have cost any money
    had I said I wanted to drop my ex's name that day in court.  They
    said it would cost me at a future time.
    
    My question is, if it's legal to just drop a name and begin using
    your maiden name or another name, why would I opt to fill out legal
    forms and have a judge decide whether it's ok for me to do this
    or not??  Is there a reason why the change should be done through
    the court?  What questions are you asked by the judge?
    
    Charlene
    
    

    Re.2> About 17 years ago there was an article in Boston Globe..
    
    Wao! you remember dates & things that far back ?
    
     Re.
    .4> By the way, both my son and his father have had their last names
    .4> changed, and now we have *THREE* different last names (I'm divorced).
    .4> I use my maiden name (actually this was done as a part of the divorce
    .4> petition).  My former husband changed his name from Schreck to
    .4> Shepherd, giving his son the option to make this change too.  He said
    .4> he'd keep Schreck.  Then a few years later, he changed his last name to
    .4> Schlesinger, after a female schoolmate he knew and admired when he was
    .4> in high school.
    
      No kidding ! Your son must be a very liberated male to change "his name"
      to "her name."
      But then again that's no big deal really. Marilyn Monroe was previously
      known as Jean Bakker, Bob Dylan changed his name from something else,
      so did good ol' George Burns...
    
      FaZari

    Re: .7
    
    You are confusing "stage names" with legally changed names.
    
    			Steve

    
    I'm pretty sure Dylan is not just a  'stage name' it's also his
    legal name.

            At my final divorce hearing (NH) my ex asked the judge to
       change her name to a hyphenated form of her maiden name and my
       name (Dxxxxx-Gray).  The judge said he could "restore" her maiden
       name or leave her married name, but he could not give her a name
       she never had.


       Richard

    I changed my name back to my maiden name several years after a divorce.
    The Dept. of Motor Vehicles, mortgage company, tax office, other county
    office where I own property, and most credit card companies want a copy
    of a legal document before they'll change your name on their records. 
    Oh, also the social security office.  I went through the court (forgot
    if it was city or county, or what), and it cost about $35.
    
    Paula

    Re: .11
    
    Strange though how few if any of these places want any sort of
    documentation when you want to change your name because you got
    married.
    
    I heard of one clever woman who wanted to resume her family name after
    getting divorced, and rather than put up with the bureaucracy that
    insisted on documentation, simply stated that the reason for change
    was "due to marriage".  She didn't say it was the ending of said
    marriage.  I'm told it worked in most cases.
    
    					Steve

    A few years ago, the Washington Post did a fascinating article on name
    changes. According to what I remember of the article, as long as you
    don't use a name to defraud, about anything goes in any of the 50
    states. The only trick is to get some pieces of documentation changed.
    They recommended the "because of marriage" trick, simply maintaining
    that your new name is a spelling correction (presumably soon to be
    followed by a pronunciation correction), or anything else that isn't an
    out-and-out actionable lie.
    
    	Jon

    I my last name legally changed to my mother's maiden name in 1983 and
    have never had anyone question the name change.  Even the government
    got it right!  (And I thought I might be able to avoid the IRS for a
    year or so!  ;-)
    
    Nanci 

A friend of mine changed her last name to G , just the one letter, no period,
no nothin' else.

She said that it was very easy to change it, and a lot of fun watching the 
computers try to deal with it...

she always was rather twisted... :-)

grins,

clark.

    re .15 Any relation to Kenny G  ?