Do you have to go to court to legally change the spelling of your first name?

I live in IL and want to change the spelling of my first name.

Do you have to go to court to legally change the spelling of your first name?
No, so long as you don't do it to defraud people. (That is, change from "Carol" to "Karul" and tell the court that all those unpaid parking tickets are not yours.)





Women change their last names all the time without a court. Virginia Smith marries Homer Hamm and becomes, (cringe) Virginia Hamm. This is called name change "by use" in some circles.





Just start doing it. After a while, send away for a new Social Security card, driver's license, etc. If anyone asks, tell them yes, it was a legal name change.
Reply:Yep ....
Reply:Yes
Reply:If you want to legally change it. You can write it however you choose, but on legal documents the courts must change it.
Reply:try this website:


http://www.namechangelaw.com/states/ill/...