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Tag Archive for: maiden name

Legal Name Change - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

We Can Help You Get A Legal Name Change in Florida

October 14, 2025/in Legal Name Change, LGBT Family Law Matters //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender family law rights, transgender name change, transgender parental rights, transgender rightsby Adam

My name is Jennifer, and I’m a Collaborative Family Law Paralegal and Client Care Specialist at Family Diplomacy. I’ve been working closely with residents of Florida to assist them with legal name changes since 2013. Not all residents of Florida whom we have helped actually live in Florida, but they have established residency here. We have worked with clients deployed in the military, people who work or go to school overseas, and people who live some of the year in different parts of the country. We are also able to help clients all over Florida through Zoom; in fact, we have not been required to attend a name change final hearing in person since before the Covid lockdown in March 2020.

Common Reasons For Changing Your Legal Name in Florida

Florida is a great state to change your name.. Counties have different requirements, but we have found the requirements to be relatively simple, for the most part.

I learned early on that people change their names for many reasons. Some people  don’t like their first or last name, or prefer a different name. Some have been called a different name most of their lives and decide to make it official. I’ve also learned that you actually don’t need a reason to change your name at all. You can change it simply because you want to.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Legal-Name-Change.png 1440 2560 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2025-10-14 14:04:282025-10-14 14:04:28We Can Help You Get A Legal Name Change in Florida
New Legal Name - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

How to Legally Change Your Name in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

June 2, 2024/in Legal Name Change //Tags: celebrity name change, change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam

Are you considering changing your name in Florida? Whether it’s for personal, professional, or other reasons, the process can seem daunting. However, with a clear understanding of the steps involved and the assistance of an experienced attorney, you can navigate this legal procedure smoothly. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Meet the Residency Requirement

First and foremost, you must be a resident of Florida. The courts will require proof of your residency, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or utility bill.  Even if you were born outside of Florida, the Courts will grant current residents a legal name change.

Step 2: Fill Out A Name Change Worksheet

To initiate the name change process, it helps to complete a name change worksheet.  We can provide you with a copy of this form, which includes a checklist in plain English of all the information that you will need to gather for the petition for a legal name change. Among other things, you’ll need to provide your current name, the name you wish to adopt, and the reason for the change. Be honest and detailed, as the court will review your reasons thoroughly.  If you have trouble filling out the form, we can help you.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/New-Legal-Name.jpg 864 1536 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2024-06-02 14:47:412024-06-02 14:47:41How to Legally Change Your Name in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide
Snl Name Change Florida - Family Diplomacy | A Collaborative Law Firm

Video: SNL Name Change

October 6, 2020/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name change, videoby Adam

This past Saturday, Saturday Night Live returned to the airwaves for its 46th Season.  As a family law lawyer who has helped countless people throughout Florida change their legal names, I was especially intrigued and delighted by the following sketch:

 

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SNL-Name-Change-Florida.png 739 1421 Adam https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam2020-10-06 08:52:242020-10-06 09:52:12Video: SNL Name Change

Do I Need A Lawyer To Change My Name in Florida?

April 25, 2016/0 Comments/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam

Many Floridians want to change their legal name.  Sometimes it is because they recently found out that the name they have always used is different than the name on their birth certificate, and they are now unable to renew their driver’s license under the federal REAL ID Act.  Sometimes it is because they want to honor a stepparent or foster parent by taking on a surname.  Sometimes it is because they want to take on a name that matches their gender identification.

And sometimes it is because they simply don’t like their current legal name.

Whatever the reason, many people who do seek a name change wonder, “Do I need a lawyer?”

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Name Change

January 27, 2016/0 Comments/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam

If you live in Tampa Bay, Greater Sarasota, or elsewhere in Florida and you are looking to change your legal name, Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm can help you.  Whether you seek to correct your birth certificate, honor a loved one, or turn a new leaf in life, Family Diplomacy will sit down with you and set a plan for moving forward.

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Do You Want A New Name?

September 27, 2015/0 Comments/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam

With Pope Francis’ visit upon us and the recent celebration of the Jewish New Year, many Floridians are looking inward and have decided that they want to turn over a new leaf. For some, that may include a decision to adopt a new legal name.

Name Change

 

Fortunately, Florida has procedures that permit most adult residents to change their name.

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Is it too Late to Restore My Maiden Name in Florida?

December 18, 2014/0 Comments/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorneyby Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law

In Florida, as in most other jurisdictions, women can restore their maiden name as part of the divorce process.  However, for a lot of reasons, many women keep their married name.

Sometimes it is so they can maintain the same last name as their minor children, making it easier to communicate with school and healthcare officials.  Sometimes it is related to their employment, and they do not want to disrupt an earned reputation by altering their name.  And sometimes it is because they simply did not know they had the option to restore their name in divorce proceedings.

So, after divorce, is it too late to restore a maiden name?

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law2014-12-18 14:41:332016-03-11 09:58:53Is it too Late to Restore My Maiden Name in Florida?

Athletes Have Changed Their Legal Name…And So Can You

January 7, 2014/0 Comments/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law

There are many athletes who, for various reasons, have changed their legal names.

Basketball star Ron Artest changed his legal name to Metta World Peace to “inspire and bring youth together all around the world.”

Football player Chad Johnson became Chad Ochocinco in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, reflecting his jersey number, 85.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law2014-01-07 11:04:422016-03-11 16:37:04Athletes Have Changed Their Legal Name…And So Can You

Born Outside of Florida? You Can Still Get a Legal Name Change.

November 23, 2013/0 Comments/in Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law

I recently had a conversation where a woman told me that she wanted to get a name change.  She had lived in Florida for the past 5 years, but she was born in New York City, and she was wondering if she would have to travel back to NYC to change her name and get her birth certificate amended.

I assured her that she could get the name change here in Florida.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law2013-11-23 09:31:592016-03-11 16:46:39Born Outside of Florida? You Can Still Get a Legal Name Change.

How Long does a Florida Legal Name Change Take?

November 3, 2013/0 Comments/in Florida Statutes, Legal Name Change //Tags: change of name, Florida name change, maiden name, name change, Tampa Bay Name Change Attorney, transgender name changeby Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law

One of the first questions I am always asked by potential clients who are seeking to change their legal name in Tampa Bay or elsewhere in Florida is how long it will take.

First, it depends on whether you retain an attorney who is experienced in name change proceedings.  I have helped countless Florida residents obtain a change of their legal name throughout the state, and I have addressed situations that could have caused the name change to be delayed by months.

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https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg 0 0 Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law https://familydiplomacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Family-Diplomacy-Logo.jpg Adam B. Cordover, Attorney-at-Law2013-11-03 10:18:312016-03-14 09:30:59How Long does a Florida Legal Name Change Take?
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