name change

I have spelled my first name differently from that on my birth certificate for about 17 years. I was born in Alabama, and am getting married in Georgia, and will be changing my last name to my fiance's. Can I change my first name at the same time, or must I get a court-ordered name change? what are Georgia's rules regarding name changes? Thanks!

Here's how it works in Indiana, and I suspect it's the same or similar in your state:

You need to file a petition for name change with the clerk of the court where you live.

You'll also have to run a legal notice ad that contains statutorily specified language about your intent to change your name.

Then you'll have a hearing at which time the judge will ask a few questions (such as whether you are doing the change for some fraudulent purpose), and then the judge will grant the name change.

Ta-da! New name.

You can probably do all this on your own, if you're the reasonably diligent sort who doesn't mind spending a little time in the library finding out how to do it.