She's changing her name from Kitty to Karen...

February 21, 2008 9:19 PM

How do I legally change my name in the state of South Carolina?

In an effort to dissociate myself from my family (particularly my father) I have been mulling over for years a name change. As I'll be moving cross-country later this year, I decided the best time to do that is now, and would like to get on it posthaste. I've read online about the forms I'll need, and the process, but site by site, it seems it varies widely. Can anyone give me some solid information about changing my name in the state of South Carolina, especially if they've done it? And afterwards, how do I acclimatize people to my new name? Anecdotes highly encouraged- I'm a little intimidated by this whole process, but believe thoroughly that this is what I want to do.

For what it's worth, I'm located just outside of Columbia.

posted by Glitter Ninja to law & government (7 comments total)

Here's a site that offers name-change services in South Carolina. And here's a site that offers a form for name-change in South Carolina. Both charge a fee, but they might provide you with some useful information. And here's the South Carolina law regarding name change (scroll to Title 15, Chapter 49).
posted by amyms at 9:24 PM on February 21, 2008

Whatever you do, please keep Glitter Ninja! Fantastic!!
posted by mccxxiii at 9:41 PM on February 21, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Don't know about the legal change... that's something I've wanted to do myself, so I'll watch this thread with interest.

I have, however, changed the name that I am known as, and so have several other people I know. With me and everyone, it was a process of simply telling people that I hated my original name and asking them to please call me by the other. About 25% of my friends started calling me by the new name immediately, no questions asked. The rest balked, but started calling me by the other name when I explained why I hated the old one; in my case, I was named after a family member who abused me. When those friends saw how strongly I felt, they switched over too. Some of my oldest friends will still fumble and call me by the old one, but it's rare.

There are still people who INSIST on calling me by the old name. Doesn't matter how nicely I ask, what horrible stories I tell them about why I feel so strongly, nothing. Their attitude is "I've known you for years, I've earned the right to call you [awfulname]." It's obnoxious, but all of these people suck in other areas and aren't actually my friends, so I usually just glare sweetly and shrug it off.

Good luck to you, poster formerly known as Glitter Ninja.
posted by Gianna at 9:53 PM on February 21, 2008

When I did it in Washington I had to file with the county court, which ran about $55, and appear in court to say that I was not attempting to defraud anyone. Then I bought several certified copies of the name change order from the county clerk, one of which I sent to the Social Security Administration, one of which I sent to the DMV, one of which I sent to the passport people, and several of which I have kept.

I'd recommend looking directly at your county's website or calling the clerk, rather than paying someone else to file for you.

The actual process should be quite easy; the hard part is reminding each doctor, school department, and creditor of the change.
posted by moonlet at 10:28 PM on February 21, 2008

Now that I am looking at my name change order, let me amend that to district court, and it was the county auditor I got the copies from. Small county, though; YMMV.
posted by moonlet at 10:30 PM on February 21, 2008

I changed my name when I married. I took advantage of a cross-country move and started to use the new name 100% in the new city. It took longer for old friends to switch over but then again I had no hard feelings about the old name. I'm guessing that you will probably want to get on top of changing your name on official documents asap so you aren't trying to change name and address at the same time.
posted by metahawk at 11:09 PM on February 21, 2008

I changed my name when I married in South Carolina and that was stunningly easy - I just took a copy of my marriage certificate to the DMV and bingo, I was no longer Ms. X, I was Mrs. Y everywhere, even suddenly on my taxes and everything, as if by magic.

Then I got divorced - still in Charleston - and wanted to change my name back. That was a royal PITA. I had to go everywhere in person from the bank to the electric company to the Social Security office to the DMV three or four times, fill out piles of paperwork, present not only my marriage certificate but my birth certificate and fuss until their records were grudgingly updated. The divorce lawyer told me I would even have to put an ad in the paper (there used to be a whole section in the classifieds in the Newsless Courier devoted to name changes; I don't know if it's still there but it was great reading for the terminally bored) but I never did do that. I think, though, that if you're changing away from a birth name for reasons other than marriage, you may have to advertise and you will probably need a lawyer, ridiculous as that may seem.

You know, mefite ND¢ is a lawyer in Columbia - try shooting him a mefi mail. He'd know if you need a lawyer or not.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:24 AM on February 22, 2008