Contents
After you get married in Kansas, you have 10 days to decide if you want to change your last name. Here’s how to do it.
Checkout this video:
Gather the required documents.
In order to begin the process of legally changing your last name in Kansas, you will need to gather together a few required documents. The first document you will need is your birth certificate. If you were born in the state of Kansas, you can request a copy of your birth certificate from the vital records office in the county where you were born. If you were not born in Kansas, you will need to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate from the vital records office in the state where you were born.
The second document you will need is your marriage certificate. This is the document that proves that you are married and thus eligible to change your last name. If you do not have your original marriage certificate, you can usually obtain a certified copy from the vital records office in the county where you were married.
The third required document is a form called an “Affidavit of Identity” or “Certificate of Identity”. This form must be completed by a notary public and states that you are who you say you are. You can usually find this form at any office supply store or online.
File a Petition for Name Change.
The first step in changing your last name in Kansas is to file a “Petition for Name Change” with the district court in the county where you live. The form for this petition can be found on the Kansas Judicial Branch website.
When you file your petition, you will need to include your current name, the name you would like to change to, your reason for wanting to change your name, and your signature. You will also need to have two other people who know you sign the petition as witnesses.
After you have filed your petition, the court will set a hearing date. At the hearing, you will need to present evidence that supports your reasons for wanting to change your name. After hearing all of the evidence, the judge will decide whether or not to grant your request.
Serve notice of the name change.
In order to change your last name in Kansas, you must serve notice of the name change. The name change notice must be published in a newspaper for four weeks, and you must also provide notice to all interested parties, such as the Department of Health and Environment, the Division of Vehicles, and the Social Security Administration. You will need to file a petition with the court, along with proof that you have served notice of the name change, and the court will issue an order changing your name.
Attend the hearing.
If everything goes as planned, you and your spouse will be given a date for a hearing in front of the judge. This hearing is usually very brief; the judge will ask both of you if you understand the paperwork you have filed, if you have any questions, and if there are any objections to the name change. If everything is in order and there are no objections, the judge will sign your Order to Show Cause and decree that your name has been changed.
Change your name on your driver’s license, Social Security card, and other documents.
1. Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the court clerk.
2. Take your certified marriage certificate to the DMV and get a new driver’s license with your new last name.
3. Change your name on your Social Security card by mail or in person at your local Social Security office.
4. Change your last name on your bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts by contacting each institution directly.
5. Update the name on your property deeds and titles, if necessary, by contacting your local county courthouse.
6. File a name change petition with the court if you want to legally change your last name for any other reason than marriage.
