Name change on birth certificate.

[MikeandRong]

Got a question that has me stumped.

 

Every single document from first petition through citizenship, plus every other document and ID is in the original Chinese name.

 

Now the Chinese spouse wants to change the name to an American name on every ID, document, liscense, title, account, insurance, etc.

 

I have read all the instructions on how to do and what is needed,and while time consuming and costing some money, it appears fairly straight forward with 1 exception.

 

The instructions explicitly say "upon receiving the judges decree granting the name change and after filing the document with the county recorder of deeds, you MUST also change your birth certificate."

 

So my question is,is this possible to change the notorial Chinese birth certificate (white glued together book) from the Chinese name to the new American name? And then of course get more copies made if the Notory would do this.

 

The person already has USA citizenship and USA passport. I also don't know if changing the name in the USA passport would require the new Chinese birth certificate, or just the judges order, or both.

 

Would the USA naturalization certificate also need to be changed? (Just thought of this question now).

 

The state of residence is Illinois in case it makes a difference in the law/rules/instructions.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Aiya!!!

[dnoblett]

Never heard of name change on birth cert, probably only has to do with those who were born in Illinois, most certainly the Chinese notary office probably would not make this change in their records.

 

You can always check with the Chinese consulate in Chicago.

 

My wife took my family name at time of marriage, its her name on her naturalization and on her US passport, never had to mess with her birth cert.

 

As for naturalization cert you would file an N-565 to get an updated form. https://www.uscis.gov/n-565

 

As for US passport DS-5504 https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/services/correction.html

[Randy W]

The notarial certificate reflects what is in the hukou.

 

You would need to legally change her name in China - I don't think that's possible.

 

My guess is that the best you could with Chinese documents would have been (before she naturalized) to have a name change addendum to her Chinese passport.

 

You need to look into that requirement some more - I doubt that it would apply in her case. Check with a lawyer, if needed.

 

Why did she need a judge's order? Does she wish to change to something other than her husband's name?

 

What instructions are you reading? I'm not seeing that Illinois has any requirement along those lines.

 

Changing records is pretty much on an as-needed basis - that is, change the driver's license, SS card, credit cards, etc. I'm not seeing any reason to change the birth certificate.

[MikeandRong]

Thank you for the 2 links, they will both come in handy. I agree it would have been easy to change at the marriage, even if waiting, it was asked several times for us at the naturalization interview. Agree too the Consulate route, as they do all sorts of notarie services there. That would be my first place to try.

 

This is the section I was referencing to for the birth certificate change, step #7, third sentence down.

 

 

7. Follow up if the court approves your name change.

Change your name on your birth certificate

You must change your name on your birth certificate if the court approves your name change.

 

To change an Illinois birth certificate, you will need:

 

A certified copy of the Order for Name Change

A money order for $15.00 to Illinois Department of Public Health and

Your date of birth and place of birth.

Mail these three things to

Illinois Department of Public Health

Division of Vital Records

925 East Ridgely Avenue

Springfield, IL 62702

(217) 782-6554

 

If you were not born in Illinois, contact the office that keeps birth records in the state where you were born. Ask a staff person in that office how to change the name on your birth certificate.

 

 

 

So you can see how that one stumped me, espically because they don't say why. Only must.

 

I will pass all the info along, as it is now up to 4 women who all want to do this change. I'm clueless as to why they want to do this change. Mama tells me it is to keep them safe. From what or whom I do not know. But something must be going on that has them all spooked this week so sudden.

 

Thank you again for looking and responding.

 

I will post an update after it all gets figured out in case some others are in the same boat later on.

[MikeandRong]

The notarial certificate reflects what is in the hukou.

 

You would need to legally change her name in China - I don't think that's possible.

 

My guess is that the best you could with Chinese documents would have been (before she naturalized) to have a name change addendum to her Chinese passport.

 

You need to look into that requirement some more - I doubt that it would apply in her case. Check with a lawyer, if needed.

 

Why did she need a judge's order? Does she wish to change to something other than her husband's name?

The judges order is simply granting the name change.

 

2 of them are divorced from their USA husbands and 2 are still married. All kept their original Chinese names at the time of marriage. What name they plan on using I have no idea, but they all said complete new name to keep safe from the government. Something must have happened that spooked them to all want do this name change thing so suddenly.

 

I agree, I don't see how it could possibly apply to a person born outside the USA.

[Randy W]

I'm still not seeing the requirement - only four steps here - http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/name_change/Name_Change_Suite_Approved.pdf'

 

Do you have a link?

 

See http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/?section=FAQSPageat the bottom

Edited May 6, 2017 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 

The notarial certificate reflects what is in the hukou.

 

You would need to legally change her name in China - I don't think that's possible.

 

My guess is that the best you could with Chinese documents would have been (before she naturalized) to have a name change addendum to her Chinese passport.

 

You need to look into that requirement some more - I doubt that it would apply in her case. Check with a lawyer, if needed.

 

Why did she need a judge's order? Does she wish to change to something other than her husband's name?

The judges order is simply granting the name change.

 

2 of them are divorced from their USA husbands and 2 are still married. All kept their original Chinese names at the time of marriage. What name they plan on using I have no idea, but they all said complete new name to keep safe from the government. Something must have happened that spooked them to all want do this name change thing so suddenly.

 

I agree, I don't see how it could possibly apply to a person born outside the USA.

 

Changing their records in China would seem to defeat this purpose.

[MikeandRong]

https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-change-your-name

 

Yes, I see on the Illinois link there is no word that says "must", bottom line on page 3.

 

The Illinois legal aid link said "must", step 7.

 

I would go with the Illinois link vs Illinois legal aid.

 

Much appreciated, thanks.

[MikeandRong]

Changing their records in China would seem to defeat this purpose.

 

I could not agree more with you on that.

 

This all blew up on me today. Started with a phone call and was asked do I know how to change your name. By evening the texts and phone calls were overlapping each other. Wanted it done right away, wanted to do it all together at the same time at the same court, and wanted it done by next week, and no talk to any Chinese lawyers.

 

I'm just happy the Illinois court web site has the language option to change to simplified Chinese so they all could start reading it too.

 

It will all work out ok, just longer than next week.