Sunday, February 16th
2025 Name Change Service Reviews
US Legal Forms
- Name change forms available for adults and children
- Consists of forms and instructions
- Over 85,000 legal forms for a variety of needs, not just name changes
- Subscription-based: $8 or $15 per month (when billed annually)
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Founded in 1997
US Legal Forms was founded in 1997 and proudly advertises itself as "the nation's leading online publisher of state-specific legal documents”.
Need a subscription
You'll sign up for a subscription to use their name change service:
- $8/month (billed annually) gets you access to all of the 85,000+ legal forms in their database
- Jumping to the $15/month (also billed annually) premium plan adds an online PDF filler, electronic document signing, a 50% discount on business/legal entity formation services, and completion services for last will/power of attorney/living will documents to the benefits.
If you switch to month-to-month billing, expect to pay $39/month and $59/month, respectively. That's quite a big jump.
Many different types of name changes supported here
To see the name change documents that will apply to you, you'll have to click on the link for your state of residence. We were glad to see that US Legal Forms has options not just for marriage and divorce but also for adults, minors, and families. We also like the document previews available for every type of name change in each state: there's no surprises in what you'll get if you pay for this service.
Typos give a bad impression
However, our concerns with this site started right on the main page, where we were told we would have to "Answer a few quesitons”. Quesitons? That sounds like something newly-featured on a Taco Bell menu. Having a typo so prominently displayed on the website immediately raises red flags: can you trust this name change service to provide accurate documents?
Pattern of complaints according to the BBB
The second issue came up when we clicked on the link to US Legal Forms' Better Business Bureau listing, using the button displayed on the USLF site where it proudly proclaimed an "A+” rating from the BBB. Not exactly true. The BBB, while still keeping this company's accreditation, had downgraded the rating to a simple "Not Rated”. Why? The Bureau reported that they had observed a pattern of complaints from consumers who had trouble canceling their subscriptions and getting a refund, saying that US Legal Forms never responded to their inquiries. Lo and behold, the BBB hadn't gotten an answer from the company either as of the time of this evaluation. Not a good sign - and not exactly demonstrative of fulfilling the 100% satisfaction guarantee they promise.
Still manages to get praise
On the other hand, across nearly 100 reviews left for US Legal Forms on Trustpilot, the service averaged a respectable 4.4 out of 5 stars. One compliment left within just a few days of this evaluation said that using this platform saves their business hours of employee time by giving them numerous templates as a jumping-off point. While you may not need that kind of document variety if you're just doing a basic name change, it makes US Legal Forms look a little bit more attractive for those who may have other document needs and would think that a subscription is worth it.
Not worth the risk
However, even for those clients who want access to a broad spectrum of legal documents, US Legal Forms just isn't the service we'd recommend - not when there's at least one other option (in our review, even) that does the same thing with a much stronger track record. While the positive feedback from some clients is worth noting, the BBB alert is enough to keep this name change service from rising above the bottom of our rankings. You can get the same service with a lot more peace of mind somewhere else.
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The 8 Best Name Change Services
Which Name Change Service is the Best?
Changing your name in the United States is an important decision that many people make for various reasons. Whether it's to express your true identity, leave behind a difficult past or walk with joy into a future with a spouse, honor your cultural heritage, or adapt to new circumstances, the process involves legal and administrative steps that can be daunting.
The specifics may differ depending on the state, but generally, you'll need to file a petition with the appropriate court and pay some fees. Some states may require you to attend a court hearing. If so, at the hearing, you'll explain why you want to change your name. If the court approves your request, they'll issue a legal name change order, which serves as the basis for updating your identification documents and notifying relevant institutions.
Name Change Service FAQ
Continued from above...
Of course, if your name is changing because you're getting married, your license/certificate stands in place of a court order with respect to documentation. Once you have the name change order (or your marriage/divorce is official), it's time to update your official documents.
You'll need to get a new Social Security card, driver's license or state ID, passport, and other identification papers. Don't forget to change your name on bank accounts, credit cards, utility bills, and insurance policies too. It's also important to inform your employer, school, healthcare providers, and anyone else who needs to know about the change.
Are you exhausted just thinking about it? Fortunately, name change services can make this whole process much easier by providing guidance throughout the journey. With their expertise, you can save time and make sure you've completed all the necessary steps accurately. In many cases, you can even submit all of your information online and with one click, the name change service sends a request to hundreds (or thousands) of financial institutions and businesses in their database to update your record with your new name.
Which name change service is right for you? Many of them are similar, but here are some key characteristics that will help you make the choice:
- Kind of name changes available. Some services only focus on marriage-related switches, while others can accommodate court-ordered name changes (adoption, gender identity, and so on).
- Type of service offered. Are you looking for help getting a court-ordered name change? Most services don't specialize in that: they assume you've already got the documentation and you're just updating all of the necessary governmental offices, banks, and so on. Make sure you choose a name change service that offers the help you actually need.
- Fees. What will you pay for the service? Is it a one-time fee or is it subscription-based?
- Reputation. What do previous clients say about the name change service you're considering? Did they get the job done with no hassle? Was it worth the money? Has the Better Business Bureau rated the service?
Whatever your reason may be for changing your name, there's no need for it to be complicated - or expensive - to get it done. Top Consumer Reviews has made it simple and straightforward by reviewing the best (and the worst) name change services available today.
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