Submitted by anonathen t3_11qdosn in springfieldMO
Does anyone have experience with legally changing your name in Springfield?
ETA: with a petition, not with a marriage. I have a question about the process after submitting!
Comments
anonathen OP t1_jc2qj61 wrote
If you remember, were you given a date to go in front of the judge, or did they give you any instructions for what to do after you submitted your petition?
queen_of_frustration t1_jc2sycl wrote
It's been about seven years so this may be outdated, I had to talk to the family court clerk and file the paperwork. They then set the date to go in front of the judge and back then they also did the putting the name change in the publication, but I think that has since changed.
On Greene county circuit Clerk's website under the name change section, they list their number, I would call them for the most up-to-date info on the process.
scram143 t1_jc3qns4 wrote
You usually don’t have to actually appear in court - usually you’re assigned a court date but the judge typically signs off on it and you don’t have to actually appear. Then you take your court order and publish, a lot easier than I was expecting honestly
Emerald_Honey t1_jc52arz wrote
I recently (January '22) changed my first and middle name, and it was both a lot easier than I thought...and a bit more tedious than expected.
The easier part was getting the initial document from the judge stating my name was legally changed. All I had to do was go in, write out a statement (they said they weren't doing in-person court hearing bcuz COVID), and pay the fee ($200). Once I got that court order, I could go elsewhere.
The more tedious bit came later. The Social Security office was not open for in-person, only over the phone, and that took an additional two-ish weeks to get my new card; I had to physically go in and alter my tax records for the name change to take; and I had to take my spouse with me to our bank just to change my name on our acct.
Just go in prepped to do legwork but lemme tell ya: it's worth it. 😋
Jiro25 t1_jc5kz1z wrote
This is very similar to my experience getting my name changed in 2021! No court appearance necessary for me
Sally_twodicks t1_jc2m5wi wrote
I don't necessarily remember it being a big ordeal changing my last name after getting married. I literally brought the recommended documents to the social security office and had to wait about 20 minutes due to the volume of people.
However, requesting Petition for Change of Name Forms can be found at Name Change Link and it says the filing fee is $187.50 with a $10 fee for service of a child name change.
bradpmo t1_jc2mgpo wrote
I think you want https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=3834#Adult
Sally_twodicks t1_jc2mq3j wrote
Thank you. It's weird that the link the greencountycourts.org gives takes you to a website to defend yourself?
mb10240 t1_jc3wdu1 wrote
That’s a link to the State of Missouri’s page on representing yourself. The clerks can’t give you any advice on anything, but the state does run a program on how to file certain common actions, like divorces and name changes.
var23 t1_jc2s7g4 wrote
My step daughter changed her name. We paid a lawyer $225 to handle it all.
anonathen OP t1_jc2sfsv wrote
Did she need to appear in court after everything was submitted?
var23 t1_jc2u11f wrote
Nope. Just had to sign some stuff at the lawyers office.
anonathen OP t1_jc2u5l4 wrote
Do you know about how long the process took, from submitting the documents with the lawyer to hearing about the approval?
var23 t1_jc2xadc wrote
About five months to get the final documents but that was because my daughter too her time getting tot he social security office.
bradpmo t1_jc4qkpo wrote
It’s immediate if you file the form yourself. Typically takes a few days to process.
hadsdawson t1_jc3n31s wrote
I also went through a lawyer about two years ago to legally change first and last. I did not (thank Jesus lol) have to appear in front of a judge. It costs more to go through a lawyer but I was too anxious about all of the documents that needed to be submitted etc. So I decided to go through a lawyer so they could handle that part of it for me. Good luck! I'll echo someone else in saying that it was much harder to change everything through everyone else than to actually get the name change itself!
MinamotoYoritomo t1_jc2o3v6 wrote
I have a friend who wants to change their first name but not their last so I'm also interested to hear this.
bradpmo t1_jc43hnh wrote
Same process as total name change.
feralfantastic t1_jc4g4bv wrote
There’s probably a self represent form of the Missouri website. Filing fee is $137 or so.
scaliber- t1_jc6skhp wrote
You might be able to get the fee waived by filling out an In Forma Pauperis application.
Here is a link directly to the form.
I don't see people bring that up often, so I'm not sure if it's common knowledge. I'm also not sure what the state considers "too poor" to pay for a name change, but it's worth a shot to save the money imo
powderedteeth t1_jc9gh2m wrote
Had name changed in 2019, around age 22. Just filled out a form, paid the fee, had to go to court after it was processed where a judge just asked me the same questions on the form (are you doing this to avoid debts, etc) and confirm the name was right. I think it all happened within the span of 2 weeks, but this was pre-COVID so I don't know if things are slower now.
Allegedly you had to have it run in the paper for a couple weeks, but I don't know if I was supposed to submit this or they were, but I wasn't involved with it, so I don't know if it actually happened. If you're doing the name change to avoid an abusive situation, the form says they can waive this part.
bradpmo t1_jc2m2qp wrote
Yep.
queen_of_frustration t1_jc2q80v wrote
It's been a bit, but all I had to do was fill out the paperwork, go in front of a judge, pay the fee, and wait a bit for the required publications to run and then I got the court order saying it was official. It honestly was easier to get the name changed than it was to update everyone that needed it. I think I ended up needing like 5 official copies to send to various places.
My judge did ask why I was changing my name but did not have any issues that it was because I was trans, if that is anyone's concern. They do it to make sure you are not trying to hide from the law or bill collectors.
Here is the form for an adult name change.