Not to detract from your general point, but no, you don’t need an attorney to change your name in (at least most of) the US, especially if you have a reason you can put on a simple court filing like “marriage”. It is somewhat unnecessarily complicated by paperwork, but you definitely don’t need a lawyer and it isn’t recommended to pay for one for something so simple.
I know this because I’m transgender and have changed my entire name, and looked up the process in multiple states.
I looked into the process in multiple states cause I was moving around from state to state at the time I wanted to change it, and while I’m originally from Michigan and would have to go through them for birth certificate changes (so yes, kinda one state to rule them all), the rest of the legal name change process is done wherever you currently live.
Not to detract from your general point, but no, you don’t need an attorney to change your name in (at least most of) the US, especially if you have a reason you can put on a simple court filing like “marriage”. It is somewhat unnecessarily complicated by paperwork, but you definitely don’t need a lawyer and it isn’t recommended to pay for one for something so simple.
I know this because I’m transgender and have changed my entire name, and looked up the process in multiple states.
That’s good to know. Still more complicated than it should be but not as bad as I thought.
You had to do it in multiple states? Or was it a One State to Rule them All situation? Serious question, by the way.
I looked into the process in multiple states cause I was moving around from state to state at the time I wanted to change it, and while I’m originally from Michigan and would have to go through them for birth certificate changes (so yes, kinda one state to rule them all), the rest of the legal name change process is done wherever you currently live.
Oh, sheesh! That’s tough! I hope you were able to get it done and registered and that you are now called by your heart’s name.