Can I Change My First and Last Name When I Marry in Nevada?
Full Question:
Answer:
It is possible to change both a first and last name through a petition for a name change. The court must find that the requested name change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of anyone else. A person is not allowed to change their name in order to avoid judgments or legal actions against him or her, or to avoid debts and obligations. A person can not change their name to defraud any person.
For an order of name change to be granted, the court must find that the desired change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person. A notice of name change will be published in a local publication for 3 weeks in order to allow anyone to file an objection.
Please see the following NV statutes:
NRS 41.270 Verified petition.
Any natural person desiring to have his name changed may file a verified
petition with the clerk of the district court of the district in which he
resides. The petition shall be addressed to the court and shall state the
applicant's present name, the name which he desires to bear in the future,
the reason for desiring the change and whether he has been convicted of a
felony.
NRS 41.280 When publication of notice is required.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, upon the filing of the
petition, the applicant shall make out and procure a notice that must:
(a) State the fact of the filing of the petition, its object, his present
name and the name which he desires to bear in the future; and
(b) Be published in some newspaper of general circulation in the county
once a week for 3 successive weeks.
2. If the applicant submits proof satisfactory to the court that
publication of the change of name would place his personal safety at risk,
the court shall not require the applicant to comply with the provisions of
subsection 1 and shall order the records concerning the petition and any
proceedings concerning the petition to be sealed and to be opened for
inspection only upon an order of the court for good cause shown or upon the
request of the applicant.
NRS 41.290 Order of court; hearing on objections; disposition and
rescission of order.
1. If, within 10 days after the last publication of the notice no written
objection is filed with the clerk, upon proof of the filing of the petition
and publication of notice as required in NRS 41.280, and upon being
satisfied by the statements in the petition, or by other evidence, that
good reason exists therefor, the court shall make an order changing the
name of the applicant as prayed for in the petition. If, within the period
an objection is filed, the court shall appoint a day for hearing the
proofs, respectively, of the applicant and the objection, upon reasonable
notice. Upon that day the court shall hear the proofs, and grant or refuse
the prayer of the petitioner, according to whether the proofs show
satisfactory reasons for making the change. Before issuing its order, the
court shall specifically take into consideration the applicant's criminal
record, if any, which is stated in the petition.
2. Upon the making of an order either granting or denying the prayer of
the applicant, the order must be recorded as a judgment of the court. If
the petition is granted, the name of the applicant must thereupon be as
stated in the order and the clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the
order to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics.
3. If an order grants a change of name to a person who has a criminal
record, the clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the
Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for inclusion in
that person's record of criminal history.
4. Upon receiving uncontrovertible proof that an applicant in his
petition falsely denied having been convicted of a felony, the court shall
rescind its order granting the change of name and the clerk shall transmit
a certified copy of the order rescinding the previous order to:
(a) The State Registrar of Vital Statistics for inclusion in his records.
(b) The Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for
inclusion in his record of criminal history.
