Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

Name change process

I am interested in the time required to legally change

my last name. I recently got married and wanted to

take a version of my husband's last name and add it my

maiden name for my ''new married name.'' I am concerned

because what I was originally told by my attorney

would take 2 months has dragged out to nearly 6

months. The primary time concern has to do with my new

driver's license, since the social security office

accepted my new married name without a problem, but

the DMV has been giving me a hard time requiring me to

get something from the courts. Right now I am in the

terrible loop of having my ss# match my new name but

not the name that the DMV has for me. I soon will be

faced with no permanent license and the inability to

extend my temporary license. If I go through the

motions to change my name on my own, can I expect

results in less than 2 months?

Thank you for y


Asked on 5/18/01, 9:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Chris Johnson Christopher B. Johnson, Attorney at Law

Re: Name change process

Ask at the court, which probably has a packet of forms for purchase showing you how to do this. Typically you file them, get a court date about a month later, publish notice of the hearing in the newspaper, and get the order at the court. Whether this can be done in two months depends on how soon the court can set the matter for hearing.

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Answered on 6/26/01, 10:36 am


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