Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.
Note Changing a legal name does not automatically update the person's birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card, or any other records. You must update these documents individually, usually by providing evidence of the legal name change. See the page on Updating Your Documents after a Name Change.
Adults applying for naturalization with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can ask for a name change in their citizenship application. USCIS provides instructions for this process:
The instructions to Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, include information on what is required when you wish to change your name at the time of naturalization. At the time of the interview, the USCIS officer will record the name change request and ask you to sign a name change petition, which USCIS files with a court before the judicial oath ceremony. Upon receipt of the petition, the court signs and seals the petition. The petition is later presented to you during the naturalization ceremony as evidence of the name change.
All name change requests facilitated through USCIS will require you to take the oath of allegiance at a judicial ceremony, rather than an administrative one. As far as possible delays, USCIS has little control over the judicial ceremony calendar. However, most courts are very supportive in accommodating the need for naturalization ceremonies.
The following resources explain the law and the name change process in more detail.
If your name was changed during naturalization but you lost your name change certificate, you may be able to request a replacement copy from:
Please note that a name change certificate and a naturalization certificate are two different documents. If you need a copy of your naturalization certificate, you will need to submit a request to USCIS. Visit the page N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document for more information.
Judicial ceremonies are often held in federal district courts. Texas has four federal judicial districts with branches in multiple locations across the state.
| Federal District Court | Office Locations | Related Links |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler. | |
| U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas | Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls. | |
| U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas | Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria. | |
| U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas | Alpine, Austin, Del Rio, El Paso, Fort Cavazos, Midland-Odessa, Pecos, San Antonio, and Waco. |
State district courts also have the authority to administer oath ceremonies and grant name changes as part of naturalization. To request copies of a name change certificate from a state court, contact the district clerk's office in the county where you lived at the time of naturalization.
If you don't remember which courthouse administered your oath or if you were naturalized at the main USCIS facility in Irving, Texas, take a look at your naturalization certificate. It will likely list the court that performed the ceremony. If you're not sure, you may contact the federal district court or the state district court in the county where you lived when you applied for citizenship.
Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.