Change Your Name in Louisiana

Changing your name is a simple process, but often requires a bit of paperwork. Be prepared to fill out petitions to change your name, or change it through marriage or divorce. Realize that no uniform petition, fee, or requirements exist in the state of Louisiana. While this guide will show you the process of changing your name, you need to contact your individual parish for these important details.

Steps

Changing Your Name When You Get Married

  1. Get your marriage license. Go through your county recorder to find your local Parish Clerk of Court. Either you, your fiance, or both of you need to apply for the marriage license in person before the marriage. Realize that once you get your marriage license, it's valid in any Louisiana parish for 30 days after it was issued. To apply for your license, you'll need to:[1]
    • Be at least 18 years old (if under, you must show parental consent)
    • Show certified copies of birth certificates
    • Give proof of social security information (show Social Security Card, W2, military I.D., or driver's license with social security number on it)
    • Pay $25, though some parishes charge over $32 and only accept cash
    • Show certified copies of divorce decrees or death certificates, if you were married before
    • Give the address for you and your fiance
    • Give the fathers' full names and mothers' full maiden names for you and your fiance, as well as the state in which each parent was born
    • Give the highest level of education you and your spouse have completed
    • Wait 3 business days after applying before receiving your license (this can be waived by a district judge or justice of the peace in the county where it was issued)
  2. Fill out the marriage license. Once you've gotten your marriage license and are married, make sure the license is signed by an officially registered minister. You, your spouse, and witnesses will all also need to sign the license. This is the first legal document you'll need to get in order to change your name, so keep any copies you're given after you initially submit your marriage license.
    • In most parishes, the minister will need to officially file the license with the parish within 10 days following the marriage.[2] At this point, you'll usually be given copies of the completed license.
  3. Get replacement copies of your marriage license. If you need a replacement certified copy, go to the clerk of court in the parish where you picked up your marriage licence application and request a copy of the marriage license after your marriage.[3]
    • If you were married in Orleans parish, you can get a copy of your certified license in person, by mail, by fax, by telephone, or online.
  4. Go to the Social Security Office. From there you can pick up and fill out the Official Form SS-5. You'll need to show the certified copy of your marriage license, which includes your old and new names.[4] If it's been more than 2 years since your marriage, you may need to give other documents proving your old name.[5] Once you've shown documentation of your new legal name and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, fill out an application for a new Social Security card.
    • There's no fee to apply for a new card and you should get it in the mail within 10 business days.[6]
  5. Update your driver's license at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). Once you've gotten your new Social Security Card, you can change the name on your driver's license. You'll need to go in person to apply, pay the fee, and show the necessary documents. Realize that when you get your new license, it will still have the same expiration date as the old one. To update your license, you'll need:[7]
    • To show an original or certified document that proves your name change (like your marriage license)
    • Your current LA driver’s license
    • Proof of your car insurance, if you own a car
    • $13 payment for the duplicate license fee (You might also have to pay an extra local fee that's no more than $4, depending on where you're applying.)
  6. Change your name on other documents. After you change your federal and state issued IDs, you need to change your name on your other important accounts and documents. Don't forget to change your name at businesses you frequently work with, including any medical/dental files, or post office boxes. Examples of accounts you'll need to update include:
    • Bank accounts
    • Credit cards
    • Leases, mortgages, or loans
    • Car titles
    • Passport
    • Voter registration
    • Utility services

Changing Your Name After a Divorce

  1. Change your name during a pending divorce. If you're currently going through a divorce, you may have the option to make your name change part of the proceedings. Louisiana courts allow women to make a name change part of the divorce proceedings. The court then confirms her change of name. But, Louisiana courts require men that changed their names during marriage to file separate forms to change their names after a divorce.[8]
    • A woman can start using her maiden name again without any legal process after getting divorced. But, it's usually recommended to make the name change part of the proceedings. This will make it easier to change other legal documents or forms of identification.[9]
  2. Change your name after a divorce. You'll need to file a Petition for Change of Name of Adult with your local parish court.[10] You'll need to go to the clerk of court in person to file the application, show identification (like a birth certificate), and pay the fee. The fee varies from parish to parish, so check costs before going to the office. You'll need to include the following information on your application:[11]
    • Your current name
    • Your description, including height, weight, hair and eye color, race, sex, place and date of birth
    • Your parents' names and addresses
    • Confirm that you aren't wanted for any crimes or have any pending legal actions
    • Why you'd like to change your name
    • The new name you want
  3. Go to the Social Security Office. From there you can pick up and fill out the Official Form SS-5. You'll need to show the divorce decree or court ordered name change, which includes your old and new names.[12] If it's been more than 2 years since your marriage, you may need to give other documents proving your old name.[13] Once you've shown documentation of your new legal name and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, fill out an application for a new Social Security card.
    • There's no fee to apply for a new card and you should get it in the mail within 10 business days.[14]
  4. Update your driver's license at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV). Once you've gotten your new Social Security Card, you can change the name on your driver's license. You'll need to go in person to apply, pay the fee, and show the necessary documents. Realize that when you get your new license, it will still have the same expiration date as the old one. To update your license, you'll need:[15]
    • To show an original or certified document that proves your name change (like a marriage license, divorce decree, or court order)
    • Your current LA driver’s license
    • Proof of your car insurance, if you own a car
    • $13 payment for the duplicate license fee (You might also have to pay an extra local fee that's no more than $4, depending on where you're applying.)
  5. Change your name on other documents. After you change your federal and state issued IDs, you need to change your name on your other important accounts and documents. Don't forget to change your name at businesses you frequently work with, including any medical/dental files, or post office boxes. Examples of accounts you'll need to update include:
    • Bank accounts
    • Credit cards
    • Leases, mortgages, or loans
    • Car titles
    • Passport
    • Voter registration
    • Utility services

Changing Your Name for Other Reasons (Including for Minors )

  1. Determine if your name change is for a valid reason. Even if you aren't changing your name because of marriage or divorce, there are plenty of reasons you might want to change your name. You can change your name if you don't like it, for religious reasons, to reflect your new gender, or to create a combined name.[16] Invalid reasons include:[17]
    • Changing your name to avoid legal judgements, debts, or obligations
    • Changing your name to defraud someone else
    • Changing your name to hide from the law or police
  2. File a Petition for Change of Name with your local parish court.[18] You'll need to go to the clerk of court in person to file the application, show identification (like a birth certificate), and pay the fee. The fee varies from parish to parish, so check costs before going to the office. You can go to the parish you were born in, where you live now, or the Vital Records Registry in Orleans County. You'll need to include the following information on your application:[19]
    • Your current name
    • Your description, including height, weight, hair and eye color, race, sex, place and date of birth
    • Your parents' names and addresses
    • Confirm that you aren't wanted for any crimes or have any pending legal actions
    • Why you'd like to change your name
    • The new name you want
  3. Have the parents sign the petition, if changing the name of a minor. Both parents have to sign the petition, or the one parent must, if the other is deceased. The exception to this is if one parent has been given custody of the minor. In this case, only the parent with custody needs to sign the petition so long as the other parent has been given a copy of the petition and 1 of the following is true:
    • The other parent has not given court ordered support for at least a year
    • The other parent hasn't supported the minor for at least 3 years after custody was awarded
    • The other parent hasn't supported, visited, communicated, or tried to communicate with the minor without just cause for at least 2 years.
  4. Pay the fee and attend the hearing, if necessary. Pay the fee required by your individual parish and show 2 forms of identification (like a military ID, Louisiana driver's license, U.S. passport, or Louisiana state ID card). Once you've filed your petition, you'll be notified by the clerk as to whether or not you'll need to attend a court hearing to review your petition. You'll also need to give a copy of the petition to the district attorney of your parish court.
    • The judge will grant or deny your hearing and notify you of the decision. If approved, your new name will be recorded in the parish records. Make sure to get certified copies of the name change.
  5. Learn what to do if your petition is denied. If the court doesn't accept your petition for a name change, understand the reason why you may have been refused. Courts can deny name changes for a number of reasons, including:[20]
    • Changing your name to avoid legal judgements, debts, or obligations
    • Changing your name to defraud someone else
    • Changing your name to hide from the law or police[21]
  6. Get a certified copy of your birth certificate. Once you've successfully changed your name, send a certified copy of the final judgment to the Vital Statistics office. You'll also need to send an Application to Amend Certificate of Birth along with a payment. Check with the office for the current fee amount. You'll need to send the final judgement, application, and fee to this address:
    • Louisiana Vital Records Registry
    • Attn: Document Alteration Section
    • P.O. Box 60630
    • New Orleans, LA 70160

Tips

  • There is no official form or fee amount for the state of Louisiana. Requirements, forms, and fees vary from parish to parish, so check with the parish you'd like to file with before you apply.

Related Articles

References

  1. ↑ http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/louisiana/marriage_licenses/
  2. ↑ http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/louisiana/marriage_licenses/
  3. ↑ https://www.laclerksofcourt.org/clerks-of-court
  4. ↑ http://www.socialsecurityeasy.com/social-security-office/ia
  5. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.dmv.org/la-louisiana/changing-your-name.php
  7. ↑ http://www.dmv.org/la-louisiana/changing-your-name.php
  8. ↑ http://info.legalzoom.com/divorce-laws-louisiana-regarding-name-changes-25277.html
  9. ↑ http://louisianalawhelp.org/resource/getting-a-divorce-in-louisiana-video-and-text
  10. ↑ https://www.ilrg.com/forms/namechange-adult/us/la
  11. ↑ https://www.ilrg.com/forms/namechange-adult/us/la
  12. ↑ http://www.socialsecurityeasy.com/social-security-office/ia
  13. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.dmv.org/la-louisiana/changing-your-name.php
  15. ↑ http://www.dmv.org/la-louisiana/changing-your-name.php
  16. ↑ https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/top-10-reasons-people-change-their-names
  17. ↑ https://www.legalzoom.com/knowledge/name-change/faq/name-change-petition-denials
  18. ↑ https://www.ilrg.com/forms/namechange-adult/us/la
  19. ↑ https://www.ilrg.com/forms/namechange-adult/us/la
  20. ↑ https://www.legalzoom.com/knowledge/name-change/faq/name-change-petition-denials
  21. ↑ http://www.courts.ca.gov/1054.htm#acc3161
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