Name Change Resources

Adult Name Change

Each district court has specific local rules that may apply in your case. Check with the clerk of the district court in your county. If you fail to follow the local rules, you may not be able to finish your case.

The procedure for legally changing your name is somewhat complicated. It is up to you to decide whether and how you use a lawyer in your case. The law allows you to do your own name change, which is also known as proceeding pro se (pronounced “pro-say”). Another option is to hire a lawyer to do only part of your case, this is called Limited Scope Representation.

This packet of forms and instructions is intended for an adult who wishes to change his or her name, and has resided in the county where the Petition is to be filed for at least one year before filing the Petition.

Child Name Change

These forms and instructions are intended only for cases where:

• A parent wishes to change a minor child’s or children’s name(s);
• The petitioning adult and the minor child(ren) have/has resided in the county where the Petition is to be filed for at least one year before filing the Petition;
• The minor child(ren)’s other parent consents to the change of the minor child(ren)’s name(s), or you know the other parent will not contest the action to change the minor child(ren)’s name(s), or the address of the minor child(ren)’s other parent is unknown.

YOU CANNOT USE THESE FORMS IF:

• You do not know if the minor child(ren)’s other parent will consent to the change of the minor child(ren)’s name(s); or
• You know the minor child(ren)’s other parent will contest the change of the minor child(ren)’s name(s).