Name Change: The Right Paperwork?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2004
Name Change: The Right Paperwork?
2
Sun, 06-12-2005 - 9:11pm

I live in NJ and am going to be changing my married name back to my maiden name. I have my marriage certificate, my birth certificate, and my divorce decree. This seems to be sufficient to change it. However, I've come across reading online something called a "court order" which seems to be something that the court could have given me to make the name change that I could use with all the places I need to change it (license, passport, etc.). I didn't have the opportunity to get that - will the documents I have be good enough?

Also, what's the difference, if any, between notarized and certified copies? I have certified copies of my divorce decree, which may be an issue for getting my passport change if that's the same thing as notarized because their web site says they don't accept notarized copies.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

-Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Sun, 06-12-2005 - 9:15pm
I am sure the laws are different in every state. You probably have to go through the county courthouse to get the name change, before you can change it through the DMV, SS and any other place you have records. It might be best to call the county and ask them what paperwork you need.

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2004
Sun, 06-12-2005 - 9:21pm
Yeah, it seems like laws are different. NJ's DMV clearly says they only need a divorce decree, and a court order is only needed if I was changing my name to something other than my maiden name. SS said the same thing, but passport was the only one that caused me to question it. Does anyone else have experience with this too?