Change Your Name in Vermont

Changing your name in Vermont is relatively easy. It's especially easy if you are changing it due to marriage or divorce, though it still only takes a few documents to make the initial change if you are taking a new name for another reason. However, don't forget that other official documents will need to be changed, such as your social security card and your driver's license.

Steps

Changing Your Name After Marriage or Divorce

  1. Get a marriage license. To change your name to your spouse's, you must legally marry. That includes registering your marriage with a local town clerk. The fee as of 2015 is $45.
    • You will need basic biographical information to fill out the form, including your parent's birthplaces, though you can also provide a birth certificate. Some clerks may require further documentation, such as divorce decrees or death certificates to prove you aren't married to anyone else anymore.
    • One of you will need to sign the license in the presence of the clerk.
  2. Change your name on your marriage license. If you prefer, you can change your name to your spouse's name or choose a hyphenated form. When you apply for a new social security card or driver's license, you will need your marriage certificate. Your marriage certificate must state your new name.
    • Purchase the marriage license before the ceremony. However, only buy it within 60 days of your wedding, as it is voided if it's not completed before then. You give it to your officiant when you get married. The officiant must fill it out and return it to the town clerk within 10 days.
    • Once the license is signed, it becomes a marriage certificate rather than just a license. Some cities will require you to fill out a change of name form, while other rely on the marriage certificate.
  3. Return to your maiden name. Similarly, after a legal divorce, you can return to using your maiden name. You do not need to go through the court to specifically change your name. Your lawyer should make it part of the divorce decree, stating your return to your maiden name. Your divorce decree must state your new name.[1] Otherwise, you may need to follow the guidelines in the rest of this article for going through the court to change your name.[2]

Changing Your Name Without Marriage or Divorce

  1. Obtain a Petition of Adult to Change name. You will need to find this document on Vermont's website. Print it out so that you can fill it out. If you prefer, you can pick up a copy of this document at probate court.
  2. Fill out the form. You will need information such as your former name and your new name and your address. You'll also need to fill in your birth date and town, as well as your spouse's name (if applicable) and your children's names (if applicable).
  3. Obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you do not already have an extra copy on hand, you will need to request a certified copy of your birth certificate. Generally, you need to request a copy online or fill out a form requesting a birth certificate. You will likely need to pay a fee.
    • For instance, in Vermont, you fill out a form online, print it off, and send in $10 for every copy that you require.[3]
    • You will also need a copy to apply for a change of driver's license and for changing your social security card, though you may be able to use the same one, depending on whether each organization keeps it or makes a copy.[4]
  4. Turn in the form, and pay the filing fee. You must pay a fee for filing when you turn in the form. As of 2015, the fee is $131.25.[5]
    • You file your form at the local probate courts. Probate courts are by county. You can find information about the Vermont probate court on Vermont's judiciary website.[6]
    • Don't forget to bring your state-issued ID and birth certificate.
    • The clerk will set a time for your case to be heard, after which you'll receive your documentation for your new name.

Changing The Name of a Minor

  1. Get the consent of both the child's parents. In order to change the name of a minor child (someone who is under the age of 18), you must first obtain both of the parents' consent to do so. The consent form the parents will need to fill out can be found as a part of the petition to change the name of a minor.
    • If consent can not be obtained, a hearing will be set so the court can determine whether the name change is in the best interests of the child. Both parents will be notified of the hearing.
  2. Obtain the child's consent if necessary. If the minor child is 14 years of age or older, the child's consent must be obtained in order for their name to be changed. The child's consent can be evidenced by the child signing the petition to change the name of a minor.
  3. Fill out a petition to change the name of a minor. To start the name change process, you will need to obtain a petition to change the name of a minor. You can go to your local Probate Court where the child lives and obtain a copy there. To fill out the petition, you will need the following information:
    • The minor's name;
    • The minor's birth date and place of birth;
    • The parents' names and addresses;
    • Any guardian's name and address;
    • The child's new name; and
    • The reason for the child's name change.
  4. Return the petition to the court along with a certified copy of the child's birth certificate. Once you fill out the petition, along with any consent forms required, you will need to return that petition and a certified copy of the child's birth certificate to the Probate Court where the child lives.
  5. Pay the filing fee. Once you file, you will be required to pay a filing fee. The filing fee is currently $150.00.
  6. Attend your hearing. If you could not obtain the consent of the parents, you will have to attend a hearing to so the court can decide whether the name change is in the best interests of the child. If this happens, you will have to show the court that you exhausted all possible avenues in trying to obtain the parents' consent.
    • Even if you did obtain the parents' consent, a judge may request a hearing if they have questions about the reason you are trying to change the child's name. You will not be allowed to change the minor's name if you are doing so for illegal or inappropriate purposes. For example, you will not be able to change the minor's name in order to run from legal trouble. You will also not be able to change the minor's name to something inappropriate, such as a swear word.

Changing Your Name With Social Security

  1. Start soon after changing your name. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that the documentation for a name change be recent (within 2 years). Also, other time-sensitive paperwork requires your social security card, so you need to get it as soon as possible.[7]
  2. Print and fill out the form. You can find the form for a name change on the Social Security Administration's website. On it, you will need to provide basic biographical information such as your name and address and your parents' names.[8]
  3. Gather the required documentation. You will need an official photo ID proving who you are, such as a passport or driver's license. You will also need the court documents changing your name, the marriage license, or divorce decree.[9] You also need a proof of citizenship. A birth certificate is ideal, but you may be able to use a passport instead.[10] This application does not require a fee.[11]
  4. Send in or take in your documents. It's easiest to apply in person, because if you don't have the documents you need, the clerk can tell you exactly what you need instead of going back forth by mail. However, you can also mail in your application.[12] You should mail it or take it to your local social security office, which you can find on the SSA's website.[13]
  5. Wait for your card. You should get your card within 10 business days of the time they received it. However, if you don't have the correct documents, it may take longer.

Changing Your Name With the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

  1. Begin immediately. You must contact the DMV within a month of changing your name. You are notifying them to change your name on your license.[14] The DMV also requires that you contact them if you are changing your address.[15]
  2. Fill out the form for a new license. With a new name, you must apply for a new license. You can find the form on Vermont's DMV website. Print it off, and fill it out.[16] If you prefer, you can also go to the DMV for the form. You will need to apply in person, which is why you must print it out to fill in.[17]
  3. Fill out the form for change of name or address. You can also print this on Vermont's DMV website. This form requires basic information such as your old name, your new name, and your address, as well as what type of change you are requesting.[18]
  4. Gather the required documents. You will need the court order changing your name, or at the very least, an official copy of your marriage license or divorce decree. You will also need your new social security card.[19]
    • In addition, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate, an official photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, and at least two pieces of delivered mail that have been delivered to your address with your new name on them.
    • In place of mail, you can use a utility bill, a lease statement, or a property bill, as well as a Vermont EBT or AIM ID card or statements from your homeowner's insurance.
    • Instead of the birth certificate, you can use other proofs of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport.
  5. Take the forms to an Enhanced Driver's License Issuing Office. Find a local office to take your information to on Vermont's DMV website. Take all of your forms and documentation with you, along with a way to make a payment, such as a check. As of 2015, you should have to pay about $40 for this application. A clerk will assist you in completing the process.[20]

Tips

  • If just married, be sure to have your marriage certificate, while if recently divorced, be sure to have your divorce decree when trying to change other documents.

Related Articles

References

  1. ↑ https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/gtc/Probate/namechange.aspx
  2. ↑ https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/gtc/Probate/namechange.aspx
  3. ↑ http://healthvermont.gov/research/records/birth_form.aspx
  4. ↑ https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-01981
  5. ↑ https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/gtc/Probate/namechange.aspx
  6. ↑ https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/gtc/probate/default.aspx
  7. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
  8. ↑ https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-01981
  9. ↑ https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-01981
  10. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm
  11. ↑ https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-01981
  12. ↑ https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-01981
  13. ↑ https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
  14. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/drivers/name
  15. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/drivers/name
  16. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/drivers/name
  17. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/drivers/name
  18. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/pdf/DMV-VL015-Duplicate_License_Reg_App.pdf
  19. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/licenses/drivers/name
  20. ↑ http://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/pdf/DMV-VL015-Duplicate_License_Reg_App.pdf
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