- If you legally change your name, you can report your legal name change to credit bureaus.
- You'll first want to update your name on your driver's license and Social Security card.
- To change your name, you'll need copies of your legal name change decree.
People choose to change their names for a number of reasons. It's perfectly legal as long as there isn't any fraud involved. But after you change your name, you will have to report your legal name change to the credit bureaus, financial institutions, and other government agencies.
Here's a step-by-step guide on reporting your legal name change.
Reasons for changing your name
Marriage or divorce
After getting married, one or both spouses may want to change their names. The couple could even hyphenate or add a surname to create an entirely new and unique name.
Personal preference
A person may decide to change their name for personal preference. They may not like their name and want to choose a name they think fits them better.
Correcting errors on official documents
A name change might be used to correct a name that was misspelled on a birth certificate or other official document.
The legal process to change your name
The legal process of changing your name is not complicated, but it does require some time and work. Here are the necessary steps.
Obtain the necessary documents
Documents may include a birth certificate, driver's license or ID, passport, and maybe even a criminal background check.
Complete court petition paperwork
Obtain the correct forms from the local court and fill them out with your current name and the new name you are petitioning the court for.
File the court petition and pay the filing fee
Submit the completed court paperwork to the clerk and pay the required filing fee.
Potential publication requirement
You may need to publish a notice of your name change in a local newspaper for public awareness. This is also why a name change cannot be an attempt to avoid debt or criminal adjudication.
Costs associated with changing your name
The cost of legally changing your name will vary by state, but costs typically range from $100 to $500. The filing fee is usually the most expensive cost. You may also need to pay for copies of the certified court order and to publish the news of your name change in a local newspaper.
How to report a name change to the credit bureaus
Before you update your name with the credit bureaus, you first need to update your name on your driver's license, Social Security card, and utility bills, since credit bureaus ask for copies of those documents to verify your name change request.
It's also recommended that you change your name with each of your lenders before updating your name with the credit bureaus. Unfortunately, this is a time-consuming process that everyone undergoing a legal name change has to go through.
The process for each of the three credit bureaus is slightly different, but they all require copies of your new ID and your legal name change decree. The Equifax and Experian processes are relatively straightforward, but changing your name with TransUnion requires more time and effort.
Equifax
According to the Equifax website, you can update your legal name through the myEquifax Dispute Center. The dispute center also handles any credit report disputes you may have.
First, create an account on myEquifax using your previous name or deadname or log into an existing account. Once you're logged in, you'll be asked to upload the following documents:
- Your legal name change decree
- Copies of documents that include your Social Security number, such as your updated Social Security card, a utility or phone bill, a pay stub, or Medicare/Medicaid card
- Your state ID or driver's license, or your updated passport
If you prefer to speak to a representative instead of changing your legal name online, you can call 1-866-349-5191 during these hours:
- Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET
- Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
You'll need to fax or mail the same documents listed above to finish reporting your legal name change to Equifax.
Experian
Experian has a specific client portal where you can upload the following required documents:
- Your legal name change decree
- A government-issued ID with your new legal name, such as a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, or passport
- A dated copy of a utility bill, bank statement, or insurance statement with your new legal name addressed to your current legal address
Experian's portal will have space to describe your claim. Here's what you need to write in that space:
"My legal name is now ______; please see attached documents."
If you prefer to report your legal name change by regular mail, you can send copies of the same documents in the mail with a typed letter explaining that you'd like to change your legal name on your credit report. Send the letter and your documents to:
Experian Dispute Requests
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Unlike the other two credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion requires you to change your legal name with every individual financial institution listed on its credit report first.
After reporting your legal name change to each credit card company, lender, or bank, you need to mail a letter to TransUnion, requesting the name change. In your letter, you must include the following:
- Your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
- Your address
You'll also need to include a copy of your legal name change decree. Mail both items to:
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
You may also call TransUnion at 1-833-395-6938 if you have additional questions about changing your legal name.
How to update your name on your legal documents
Step 1: Update your Social Security card
To update your Social Security card, you'll need to send original or certified copies of the following documents to your local Social Security office:
- Proof of your identity, such as a driver's license or state ID
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status, such as your certificate of naturalization or passport
- Your legal name change decree
- An application for a new Social Security card
Because you're required to send original or certified copies, it's recommended that you use a form of mail that includes a tracking number to prevent your items from getting lost. After your application has been processed, the Social Security office will mail your documents back within a few days.
Step 2: Update other forms of identification
After your legal name change is complete and you have your new Social Security card on hand, you can now move forward with changing your other forms of identification. Slowly and steadily update each one as it applies.
- Driver's license
- State ID
- Passport
- Military ID
- Permanent Resident Card
- Certificate of Naturalization
Additional tips for reporting your legal name change
Keep copies of documents you mail out and a record of when you mailed them. You can also invest a few dollars in certified mail at the post office, which gives your mail a tracking number you can follow. Once the tracking number states that the mail has arrived, follow up with a phone call to make sure your documents were received.
Take notes when you're calling financial institutions to follow up about your name change process. Write down the date, what time the call started, the name of the customer service representative, and what time the call ended. Take detailed notes about the next steps in the process, or when they estimate your name change will be completed.
Spread the tasks out over the span of a few weeks instead of tackling them all at once. Klippel says, "As this process can be overwhelming, once you have all the necessary documentation, you can set bite-sized goals over a three-day period — one credit bureau per day," he says.
Frequently asked questions about legally changing your name
No, you do not get a new credit file if you change your name. Your name is the only thing that will change on your credit report.
You can try to change your name on all of your documents at once, but it is a time-consuming process. It is advised that you spread the tasks out, take notes, and make copies of all of your documents.
The cost to legally change your name will vary by state but typically ranges between $100 and $500.
The legal name change process can take a few days to a few months.
