To change your name legally, the process depends on the reason and the jurisdiction, but typically involves one of the following:

• After marriage, you can change your name easily by using your marriage certificate as proof when updating your name with government and financial institutions.
• For other reasons (such as personal preference or gender identity), you usually need to file a name change petition with your local court. This involves submitting specific forms, possibly paying a fee, attending a court hearing where you explain your reason for the change, and getting a court order approving the change.
• Once you have a court order, you can update your official documents like your birth certificate, Social Security card, driver's license, and passport.
• The exact forms and fees vary by state or country, and some processes require publishing notice of the name change publicly.

If wanting to change a name on digital accounts like Google, you do so by editing personal info within the account settings, which is simpler and not a legal name change. The name change process should be done with care, as it affects your legal identity and official records. Certified copies of your marriage certificate or court order are required to update various institutions. Would you like details for a specific country or state? This information is based on guides from U.S. legal and government sources as well as name change procedures in the UK and New Jersey courts.