We Help You Legal answers, ‘Why do people change their names?’ 

-Choosing to change one’s name is quite common and completely legal as long as the court process is followed. We Help You Legal, the legal document assistance service for divorce in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County recently released a list of the most common reasons for name changes.

More reasons might be imagined for someone deciding to change their name. Here are the top reasons for choosing a name change:

• One of the most common reasons for a name change is marriage or divorce. Individuals may choose to adopt their spouse’s last name upon marriage or revert to their previous name after divorce. However, changing back to one’s original last name at a later date might need to be done by filing a court petition.
• Errors in birth certificates or other legal documents may prompt individuals to change their names to correct inaccuracies.
• Individuals undergoing gender transition may change their names to better align with their gender identity. This can involve changing first names, last names, or both.
• Some people simply prefer a different name and decide to change it legally for personal or cultural reasons. This could be due to a desire for a fresh start, to distance oneself from a negative past, or to better reflect one’s identity.
• Individuals might choose to change their names to reconnect with their cultural or ethnic roots. This may involve adopting a name that is more representative of their heritage.
• When someone is adopted, they may choose to change their name to reflect their new family and identity.
• A change of religion may lead individuals to change their names to reflect their newly adopted faith or to conform to religious naming conventions.
• In cases of domestic violence or other safety concerns, individuals may change their names to avoid being located by an abuser or to start a new life.
• Some individuals change their names for professional reasons, such as adopting a stage name in the entertainment industry or selecting a name that they believe will be more marketable.
• Individuals who become naturalized citizens or move to a new country may change their names to better assimilate into their new culture or to comply with local naming conventions.

Even though changing one’s name legally for any reason is not complicated, requesting the court to restore an original last name after a divorce is probably the easiest process. Many who file for divorce without an attorney choose to work with a California Licensed Document Assistant (LDA) at a service like We Help You Legal. We Help You Legal LDAs can help make sure that the request is included with the divorce documents for the Paso Robles or any California Superior Court.

Even though petitioning the court for a name change is a relatively straightforward process, it’s still important to make sure all of the required documentation is completed accurately and filed on time. It’s also important to have all of the personal documentation available, such as birth certificates, dissolution of divorce, adoption documents, or immigration documentation. Many individuals successfully petition for a name change themselves. Others find it intimidating or have too many conflicts with work schedules or other personal matters.

When an individual prefers to not spend extra money on attorney fees, an LDA is often a very good choice.

We Help You Legal has been assisting with many different kinds of legal documents for over 22 years. Services include trusts and wills, LLCs and corporations, divorce for Paso Robles and other California communities, name changes, and much more. With offices in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, the licensed and experienced staff meets the many needs of legal document assistance and helps their clients get through the processes as easily as possible.

We Help You Legal is a “self-help” legal document assistance company that provides document preparation without the high cost of an attorney. We Help You Legal, Inc. is not a law firm. We cannot represent you in court, advise you about your legal rights or the law, or select forms for you.

We Help You Legal, Inc.
720 10th St,
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 237-7770