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  1. #1

    Default Changing Birth Name, When All ID Already Shows a Different Surname

    My question involves name change laws in the State of: Washington

    I have a bit of a conundrum trying to get my name changed from the one on my birth certificate to the name of my step father, which I have been using since I was 2 years old (I am now an adult in my 20's).

    My biological father is named on my birth certificate, and my last name on both my birth certificate and social security card is listed as his. I have had no contact with my biological father since infancy, and my mother remarried when I was 2 years old. Since that time I have been using my step-father's last name. All of my official identification (photo ID/driver's license), academic records, bank and financial information display the last name of my step-father. In fact, I was not even aware of the discrepancy between my birth name and the name I have been using for my entire life. Now I would like to rectify this discrepancy by officially petitioning the court for an order of name change. However, I have absolutely no identification of any kind in my birth name aside from my birth certificate (my original social security card was lost by my parents and I cannot replace it without identification in the name in which the card was issued). I have no documents sufficient to establish identity in my birth name to even obtain a new identification card or passport in my birth name. So I'm at a bit of a loss on how to proceed here. Even if I can obtain the court order for name change it seems that I need at least one form of photo ID in my birth name in order to apply for a new social security card. I was hoping I could get some advice without having to consult a lawyer - my financial situation is pretty tight. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Changing Birth Name, When All ID Already Shows a Different Surname

    I see nothing in the statute, RCW 4.24.130, or the forms (e.g., King County forms) for a name change that require you to present any specific ID; you need to prove your identity and honest intentions to the satisfaction of the court. Presumably you have documents (e.g., school yearbooks, old photo ID's) that can demonstrate that you've been using the same name since childhood, can produce a marriage certificate to show how the name issue arose, can produce a witness or two if needed, can show that your driver's license, academic records, etc., are associated with your SSN, etc., and as such I would expect that you would be able to meet the demands of a court despite the deficiencies of your formal ID.

    Did somebody tell you that you need to do more than that? Who, when and where?

  3. #3

    Default Re: Changing Birth Name, When All ID Already Shows a Different Surname

    Thanks for the reply and for amending the title (I wasn't sure exactly how to phrase the question).

    As far as obtaining the actual court order, I was told when I emailed my district court that a birth certificate *should* be sufficient, but the clerk (or whoever emailed me back) said they weren't positive if photo ID would be required or not. Unfortunately I live right on a county boundary, so my "local" district court is about an hour and a half away from where I live (meanwhile I'm a 20 minute drive from the courthouse for the county that I'm all of 5 miles outside of ), otherwise I'd just go down there and ask in person. From the sounds of it though I should be able to obtain the court order without an issue. Thanks a lot for linking me directly to the statute.

    But even if no further identification is required to obtain the court order for name change, once I get the court order I need to get my social security card changed over to the "new" name and have my birth certificate amended. My concern is that the application for a new social security card states that you must have an identity document in your legal name in addition to your birth certificate. I'm not 100% sure about requirements for getting the birth certificate amended (my birth certificate is from Florida, so that's a whole separate set of state laws).

    *edit* After reading some more at the Social Security Administration website, it seems that the court order and birth certificate should actually be sufficient to get the name change processed. It seems that when processing name changes, a court order for name change may be used as a proof of identity document. So it looks like I'm actually all set as far as that goes. Thanks again for the helpful information.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Changing Birth Name, When All ID Already Shows a Different Surname

    I need to go one step further. I have a similar issue, exept I have already married, and do not want to officially change my name back to what I thought was my legal maiden name. My mother changed my name on my social security card to that of my stepfather. However, my birth certificate was never changed. I also grew up using a my step fathers name not knowing that I was born with a different name. How do I rectify this situation. I cannot obtain a new drivers license because I do not have a birth certificate in the name that my original drivers license was issued in. I have a marriage license that I can show that name change. However, I do not have legal documentation of the first name change. It was not done through the court system. It was only changed on my social security card.

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