My question involves name change laws in the State of: Illinois
I'm preparing paperwork in order to petition for a legal name change in Illinois, and I'm wondering how to proceed since I have a different first name on my birth certificate than my common law first name, which is displayed on my social security card, driver's license, passport, marriage certificate, etc. My question is: What do I put as my current legal name on the petition for a name change? And can I list an A.K.A. name on the petition?
My parents began calling me by a different first name within the first year of my birth (I'm now in my 30's).
Here's an example (using different names) of my current set of paperwork:
What I consider my full name to be (if that counts for anything!): Laura Jane Elizabeth Smith
Birth certificate: Jane Elizabeth Smith
Passport: Laura Jane Elizabeth Smith
[note: when I applied for my passport, I had to sign a statement saying that I'd always used Laura as my first name, including my school registration, etc.]
Social security card: Laura Jane Smith
[note: I just discovered this - I'd always thought that they had my full name as Laura Jane Elizabeth Smith]
Driver's license & marriage certificate: Laura J Smith
So my question is, can I put "Laura Jane Elizabeth Smith" on the petition as my current legal name? Can I/should I put "A.K.A. Jane Elizabeth Smith" on the petition? Obviously another option would be to put just "Jane Elizabeth Smith" as my current legal name, but I have absolutely nothing other than my birth certificate which shows "Jane" as my first name.
I am going to change my name to include my new married last name - and, of course, to legalize my "common law" first name.
Thanks for your help!

