When a name change is part of a marriage, divorce, adoption or citizenship, the request is processed as part of that case. Changing your name in New York outside of a marriage, divorce, adoption or citizenship is a different process. To change your legal name, you must file a New York Name Change Petition and Order with the court. This petition must first be notarized and in some cases you may need to also provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope. When you file you will also need to provide the courts with a valid ID, a birth certificate or other form of proof of birth, proof of your current address, and any other paperwork that may prove that you meet the requirements of a name change in New York. If your petition meets all requirements and you are not changing your name to avoid legal trouble, your papers will be reviewed by the Court Clerk and submitted to a Judge. Once the judge reviews your petition to confirm you meet the requirements, they will grant or deny your name change request.