You want to change your name? In Maryland there is a court process. There is no common law recognition of a name change. To change any official documents, such as social security card, passport, or driver's license, you must have a court order.
You cannot change your name for any illegal, immoral or fraudulent purpose. For non-lawyers, this means you can't change your name to hide from your past. Your old name is still a part of your record. There are also restrictions on name changes for people convicted of certain crimes.
An attorney can help ensure the process goes smoothly. It is not long, but an attorney can make sure it gets done right the first time.