- $274 in court costs
- A court order
- 3 weeks' notice in the local paper.
So here I am, newly-minted bride, attempting to get my last name changed. But I can't make it easy on myself, so I've decided to take my maiden name as my middle name while changing my last name. Instead of being Mallory Ann Medved, I'm going to be Mallory Medved Whaley. I'm doing it because I'd like to keep my maiden name around (also I've always hated my middle name [sorry, Mom and Dad]).
Sounds easy, right? Apparently not so. Google, my usual road to information, was unhelpful. A call to the Will County Courthouse was also unhelpful, since half the people I talked to thought I was trying to register to vote, which......what? The deadline to vote in next week's election was up like three weeks ago.
So finally I talked to someone who told me to contact the circuit clerk's office. Apparently, since I am changing my middle name along with my last name, this will require $274 in court costs, me getting some facetime with a judge to get a petition signed and three weeks' worth of public notice in the local paper. (I doubt this blog counts.) Which is insane. No one other than me is going to care what my middle name is. I understand the rigamarole needed for parents changing minor children's names or some one getting adopted, but....middle name? For real, Will County?
Mallory Medved is an assistant managing editor of weekly publications for
the Sun-Times News Group. She helps cover the Lincoln-Way area and towns
southwest of Joliet. Being naturally nosy has led her to a career in
journalism and fulfilled her dream of getting paid to read. Being a new
homeowner and a future bride, she's also perpetually broke, but enjoys
hearing about other people in the same situation. She lives in Plainfield
but is a native of New Lenox.
Christina Chapman is a Will County resident who desperately wants to live in Grundy County. But since she lost that battle with her boyfriend when they bought a house, she makes due covering Grundy County news for The Herald News in Joliet. When not covering municipal meetings, school events and finding the truth behind the latest coffee talk, she is trying to balance life as a young home owner who is fighting the stereotype that she is living in sin because she is not yet married. She hopes to share with you her perspective on life and the news in hopes that you’ll share yours.
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