We Make Legal Name Changes Easy

For adult name changes and uncontested child name changes in Bexar county, your name change attorney can normally obtain a court order within two weeks of your initial appointment.  Meanwhile, adult and uncontested cases in Comal, Guadalupe, or other counties normally take 4-6 weeks. This is because hearings are held less frequently. On the other hand, contested name changes for children can take several months.

We prefer to review all government ID's that will need updating following your name change, including your driver's license, social security card, passport, birth certificate, and LTC. This helps us ensure all of your documents are properly updated. It also helps alert us to any problems with your current legal name. At a minimum, we will need to review a government-issued photo ID.

If you have been convicted of a crime above a class C misdemeanor, the law requires us to include that information to the court considering your name change. Therefore, it will be helpful to have whatever court-related documents you have related to your conviction in order to expedite the process.  Simple traffic tickets normally do not fall in this category.

Provided that your desired name isn't too outlandish, you can change your first, middle or last name to anything you like. We've helped clients change their name to their step-father's name, to their biological father's name, to a name that better expresses their heritage or identity, back to their maiden name, or just because they liked a different name better.  However, the judge must be convinced that the requested change is your interest and in the public's interest. Your attorney will discuss the reason for your name change with you and determine the best way to present your case to the Court.

Many of our clients seek to change their married name back to their maiden name/birth name following a divorce. If your divorce decree explicitly changes your name back to your maiden name, then you will not need an additional court order (unless you have since changed it again) and you will only need to update your government ID's.  However, if your divorce decree does not specifically change your name, you will need a court order to return to your maiden name. Your attorney can review your circumstances to determine the best path forward.

Generally, changing a child's name requires a court order. However, there is a small exception where the child does not legally have a father. In that case, adding the biological father to the child's birth certificate will allow the child to take the father's last name without a court order.

The difficulty and cost of changing a child's name depends on whether the proposed change is uncontested or contested. For uncontested cases, (where all legal parents and/or guardians are willing to sign the required documents) the cost is only slightly more than an adult name change and can usually be quickly accomplished by your attorney.  For contested cases, (where all legal parents and/or guardians are unwilling or unable to sign the required documents) a more complex process is required and normally takes several months for your attorney to complete. Tex. Fam. Code §45.003. Consequently, the cost is greater, and less predictable. Because the time and expense requirements of contested cases are less predictable, we charge by the hour instead of by a flat rate, and require deposit of a $1,700 refundable retainer prior to beginning work on a contested matter.

The process for obtaining a court order changing your child's name first involves meeting with an attorney, who will conduct the necessary research and prepares the necessary court documents. As a rule, it is preferable that all legal parents and/or guardians sign the required documents if the case is uncontested. In addition, children ten years or older will need to sign a statement indicating whether they agree with the proposed change.

Next, a hearing is scheduled if the case is uncontested. Fortunately, it is only necessary for one parent to attend the hearing for uncontested cases, although both parents are welcome to attend. At the hearing, your attorney will ask the attending parent(s) or guardian(s) questions under oath before the judge and argue for the proposed name change.

If the proposed change is contested (or if all legal parents and/or guardians have not signed the required documents), additional steps must be taken. First, a process server must serve any contesting or absent parent or guardian with citation and a copy of the Petition. Following service, (or waiver of service), any contesting or absent parents will have an opportunity to respond and argue against the proposed change. Importantly, your attorney will have the opportunity to cross-examine the contesting parent at the hearing.

If the proposed name change is successful, and a order is obtained, your attorney will prepare additional documents to update your child's government ID's. For children, this normally includes Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, and Passport.

For court-ordered name changes, you must disclose all criminal charges above a class C misdemeanor (whether or not there is a conviction) in your name change petition. At your hearing, the judge will likely want to know about the circumstances of the charges, the current status of the case, the result, your date of discharge from jail/prison or community supervision, whether the case has been fully closed, and whether you have had any further run-ins with the law. The Court tends to be particularly sensitive to crimes involving violence, dishonesty, and child abuse.  In general, the longer it has been since your conviction and the more minor the crime, the better the chance of the Court finding in favor of your proposed name. Hiring an experienced name change attorney will help you put your best foot forward.

If you were convicted of a felony and have not been pardoned, at least two years must have passed since your receipt of discharge or completion of community supervision. If two years have not passed, you are not eligible for a court-ordered legal name change. Tex. Fam. Code §45.103

We represent clients in Greater San Antonio area, including San Antonio, Cibolo, Converse, Schertz, Seguin, Timerwood Park,  New Braunfels,  Canyon Lake, Leon Valley, Live Oak, Pleasanton, Selma, Universal City, Alamo Heights, Bulverde, Fair Oaks Ranch, Floresville, Helotes, Hondo, Kirby Lakehills, Terrell Hills, and Windcrest.

More generally, we represent clients in Bexar County, Comal County, Hays County, Guadalupe County, Wilson County, Atascosa County, Medina County, Bandera County, and Kendall County.

If your case requires a hearing before a judge, the hearing will take place in the county where you reside.  For example, if you live in Comal county, that's where we will file the Petition that's where the hearing will take place.

We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. We offer a 2% discount for clients paying by cash or check.