How can I legally change my name?

Georgia allows a person to legally change their name which, in short terms, consists of (1) filing a verified petition in the Superior Court of the county of your residence detailing the reasons the name change is requested, (2) publishing a notice of the name change in the legal organ of the county of your residence once a week for four consecutive weeks, and (3) a hearing on petition after proof of publication is provided.  Once the name change is granted, you can request a copy of the court order and certificate of change of name from the court clerk, which will serve as legal evidence of your new name.  Regarding your IDs, you will indeed need to update them to reflect your new name. For instance, to change your name on your driver's license or identification card, you must present a certified copy of the certificate of name change. 

If you’re an adult, you would need to file a Petition to Change Name in the Superior Court of the county where you reside.  You would also be required to publish the petition in the local newspaper for a period of four weeks, before you can ask a judge to sign an order that changes your name.  After the order is signed and filed, you need to obtain two or three certified copies of the order so that you can obtain a new Social Security Card, Driver’s License, etc. An attorney can help you with the process.