Name change

What is the name of your state? PA
Can anyone tell me about changing my name? I am still married and won't be filing for a divorce for a few years, I want to drop last name, just have first and middle, no last name what-so-ever.
Can I easily do this if I am still married? I was told a lawyer would have to do the papers, so all of you attorneys out there how much will I be looking to fork out (ballpark)?
Thanks
Just lost

Here's how it works in Indiana, and the process is similar in your state, I'm guessing:

You would file a Petition for Name Change in the county in which you live.

You also would likely need to run a legal notice associated with that.

Once all that is done, you would go to a hearing, at which time the judge would ask you if you are doing this name change for some illegal purpose and then grant your request. The court will then give you official copies of your name change decree (which you will also prepare and submit to the court), and you'll have a new legal name.

You can do this case on your own, if you don't mind some research time in a bookstore or library and aren't afraid to type up all the paperwork yourself and ride this through till it's done.

FYI, there will be a filing fee and a fee for the ad.

If you hire an attorney, it shouldn't cost you a fortune because this is a relatively simple exercise.

Hope this information helps!

Thanks dorenephipot, I will so some research at my local library and see if I can find any info. for a smooth name change.
Just lost

I personally did this in NJ 8 years ago. A lawyer drew up the legal docs. Then the lawyer had to publish my name change in two NJ newspapers (so that if I owed any parties money they could collect). Then a court date was set where I stood infront of a judge and had to declare that I was changing my name because I wanted to, not for any other reason (like changing it to escape a past debt, etc). After that it was a fee of about $1,500., and that was it. It wasn't too hard or too much.