... Already Changed Your Name 77Filing Your Petition, Publishing Your Order to Show Cause, and Obtaining Your Order 80Obtaining a New Birth Certificate 80 8Filing, Publishing, and Serving Your Court ... name to be your official name, going to court is a good idea. If you decide to go to court—because you want to change your name to your pen name or to an entirely different name—be sure to ... (meaning you intend to do some thing illegal using the name). For example, you may not legally change your name if your reason is to avoid paying debts, to hide from people trying to sue...