# Name change question.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change-question/374304
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 27, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change-question/374304 "2006-09-27T02:39:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change-question/374304/1 "2006-09-27T02:39:37Z")
My mother married my step father in 1945 when I was still a baby. I grew up using his name all through school and all, and when I went to join the Navy (in 1964) I signed a form to keep my accustomed same name for my enlistment. I still use the same name, and it’s never been a problem.
Until now. I lost my birth certificate a long time ago, and recently applied to get a copy. Problem is, I need to sign the form before a notary and they won’t (of course) notarize that I am who I say I am, the person who’s name appears on the certificate, without proof of legal name change. I’ll need the cert to get a passport, etc.
The Navy people said, as I vaguely remember, that the proceedure was pretty common and that it was legal.
Question is, how can I get this proof from the Navy, or whoever holds it?
BTW; he was a great dad. 🙂
Peace,
mangeorge
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### Author:  [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2006, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change-question/374304/2 "2006-09-27T06:23:37Z")
I went through this with my wife; besides taking my name when we married she also had a name change (through a judge) when she was a minor and we had to get a certified copy of that, too.
I don’t know why you would have a problem with a notary. If your birth name is “manfred” and the name you go by is “mangeorge” then why can’t the paper you have notarized say something like:
> [@](#):
>
> I, mangeorge, under penalty of perjury, declare that I was born manfred and am the person described by the birth certificate issued following my birth on the something of whenever, 1945, in the county of somewhere, state of new yonder.
>
> /s/ mangeorge, notary stamped (after checking your mangeorge ID)
Not a lawyer, not your lawyer, not legal advice, etc. etc. Would be helpful to know what state/county, perhaps - they all seem to have different rules, like [these](http://www.ocrecorder.com/VitProc.htm).
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-change-question/374304/3 "2006-09-27T15:42:22Z")
Good point, Bug.
I’ll go to our notary this morning and ask. The horses mouth, as they say. 😉
mangeorge