Equifax Shares the Latest Steps to Change your Name on your Credit Report

THE EQUIFAX VISION IS TO NURTURE INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE, where diverse employees live our values and their best, and are celebrated for the things that make them unique. In an effort to support that vision, Equifax is sharing the latest steps for a nonbinary or transgender person (or anyone who chooses to do so) to change a name on a credit report.

"When I changed my name, I really appreciated the effort Equifax put into clearly documenting this process. I'm proud of all that we do for the community, and this guidance directly made my journey just a bit easier," said Elijah Birk, Security Solutions Architect at Equifax.

Generally, the process for a nonbinary or transgender person to change their name is:

1. Obtain a name change order at their local court. Usually the probate court provides the forms for the name change order. The court order should include both the former name and the new name.

2. With the name change order, then other government records can be changed. This may include a passport, Social Security card, driver's license, military identification card or other state-issued identification card.

3. Contact each of the nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian® and TransUnion®) to update your credit reports to reflect your new name.

4. Notify banks, creditors and anyone you do business with of the new legal name.

The legal process for full name changes varies by state, and each state may require different documentation. States may also have requirements on where the individual must be in their transition journey before certain documents can be updated. It's also important to know that when you change your name, you will need to contact each nationwide consumer reporting agency to do so.

To change a name on your credit report, documentation will be necessary to protect your identity and credit history. The easiest way to change your name (first name, middle name, last name, or full name) on your Equifax credit report is through the myEquifax Dispute Center. The Dispute Center is where you go to update or change inaccurate or incomplete information on your Equifax credit report-it's free and secure. Additionally, Equifax Consumer Center agents are trained and prepared to help consumers answer any questions around the process of how to change their name.

And remember, it's a good idea to check your credit reports regularly. Consumers can review their Equifax credit report online free of charge via myEquifax or request their credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com. Consumers can also order credit reports by phone at (877) 322-8228 or by mail at the address below.

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Your Equifax credit report will be mailed to you within 15 days.

More information about how your financial behavior impacts your credit, along with what is included on your credit reports and why, can be found on the Equifax Knowledge Center.