How to change my name
It made me 
"This was a bit of a process - it required some research on my part since my county doesn't have a nice page telling you what to do, but overall pretty painless. "
How I did it: This is the process for Harris County, Texas. Your state may have a different process. If you are in Texas but not Harris County, what goes on the petition will be the same but how your court handles it may be slightly different.
1. Fill out a petition and order. I have included a link below with the Texas Family Code requirements for the petition as well as links to a sample petition and order.
2. Have the petition notarized (and while you are there, sign it).
3. Take the petition and order to your district court (in Houston it's at 210 Caroline, Suite 110 downtown) and file it. While you are there, get a fingerprint card from the court clerk with the court information preprinted on it.
4. Take your card to a fingerprinting service to have the prints down, and mail it to the address the court gives you. There will be a fee (Harris County District Court does take credit/debit cards).
5. After a time (took me somewhere between 10-14 days) the court will call you to give you your court date. Show up on that date, the judge will sign your order, and you can then get copies for your own use.
6. Notify everyone on the planet (or so it seems). Everyone will require different levels of documentation so be sure to ask them what you need or look on the website before you send it in. Texas DPS requires you to make the change in person.
Notary public: $6
Fingerprinting service: $10
Filing fee: $227
Certified copies of the order: $6 (3 copies @ $1/page)
Meter total: $7.50
Total cost to me: $256.50
Lessons & tips: Do some research beforehand and you'll save a lot of time.
Resources: http://newlastname.org/tx-texas/legal-name-change
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