Changing domain and site name

I plan to change the domain and site name of my site in the next few weeks. The current domain still has seven months left before expiring however the name is becoming inappropriate for our site.

We have a new domain, which is sat ready and waiting. Currently our site has a very good ranking on the search engines, and a name change concerns me. I will lose that ranking for a while?

I would need to contact my hosts and tell them of a name change for my site? They would change the domain, and then I would change the nameservers at my registrar to reflect this.

Does this seem like a plan? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, how can I make my current domain still point to the site, once the changes have been made? At least for a few weeks or so to give my visitors a chance to note the new name.

Yes, you will lose your ranking for a while. Make sure to inform those who maintain the sites that link to you that your domain name is changing.

You should make your old domain point to your new domain until your lease expires.

You should ask your web host how to do these things, since different hosts handle this differently.

If I were you, I would consider renewing the old domain name so that you can maintain control of it and have it keep redirecting to your new domain.