Covering Up Those Telltale Roots

Question

How much does it cost to get a legal change of a name? And is there any way people could find out my old name, without me telling them?

Answer 1

The truth sure to scare the most paranoid among us is that anyone with a modicum of sneakiness or a smidgen of determination can find out a lot about any other person. 

But in general, if you have formally changed your name -- that is, you have gone through a formal court proceeding to change your name and it has been changed on your birth certificate, passport, and other official documents identifying you -- it would be difficult indeed for someone to find out your former name. 

The cost to legally change your name typically runs between $200 to $400, depending on the fees charged by your local court and the cost of publication.