Name Change

Do you need a court order?

First, make sure you need a court order to change your name.  There are other ways to change your name if it's related to marriage, divorce, or becoming a U.S. citizen.

• If you're getting married and want to change your last name to your spouse's name, or a combination of both of your names, you may not need a court order. Find out more about changing your name when getting married.
• If you are getting divorced, or got divorced (even long ago), and want to change your last name back to your former name, there may be a very simple process to change your name as part of the divorce.
• If you are becoming a U.S. citizen, you may be able to change your name as part of your naturalization process.

Basic steps to get a court order changing an adult's name

If you need a court order changing your name, and you're at least 18, the main steps to follow are:

1. You fill out forms
2. You file your forms with the court
3. You publish one of the forms in an approved newspaper (unless you're changing your name to match your gender identity)
4. You get a decree (a court order) signed by the judge.
5. You change your legal ID documents

You can use a program to fill out the Name change request and related forms online. This program also allows you to e-file your forms:

Guide & File - Name Change for an Adult

Check out our Adult Name Change Flowchart to see all the steps you have to follow, links to forms, and info.

If you need a court order changing your child's name, and your child is under 18, the main steps to follow are:

1. You fill out forms. If both parents agree to the change, both sign the petition.
2. You file your forms with the court.
3. You publish one of the forms in an approved newspaper (unless you're changing your child's name to match their gender identity)
4. You serve (give in the proper legal way) a copy of the papers to the other parent, unless you both signed the petition.
5. You get a decree (a court order) signed by the judge.
6. You change your child's legal ID documents.

You can use a program to fill out the Name change request and related forms online. This program works for name changes for an adult or a child (or both together, if you're changing your name and your child's at the same time).

LHI - Name Change 

Check out our Child Name Change Flowchart to see all the steps you have to follow, links to forms, and info.

If your child's other parent filed papers in court to change your child's name, you have several options:

• If you agree, you can do nothing.
• If you agree, you can file papers or go to court and let the judge know that you agree.
• If you do NOT agree, you can file papers letting the judge know and go to court.

Find out how to respond to the other parent's request to change your child's name.

First, you always need a court order to change your or your child's name, no matter the reason. But if you only need to update the gender marker, you may not need to go to court. Find out first if you need a court order to update your or your child's gender marker.

If you do need a court order, there are different options when you want to:

• Change your or your child's name to match gender
• Get a court order that changes your or your child's name and recognizes your or their gender
• Get an order that recognizes your or your child's gender identity

Choose below the statement that fits want you want to do.

For adults (choose one):

• I want to change my name to match my gender identity
• I want to change my name and get an order recognizing my gender
• I need an order recognizing my gender identity but do not need to change my name

For minors (under 18)

If you're trying to change your child's name to match gender or get a court order recognizing their gender, the instructions change a little based on whether both parents are doing the request together, or only one is doing it. Make sure you click on the situation below that fits best.

If both parents are making the request together (choose one):

• We want to change our child's name to match their gender identity
• We want to change our child's name AND get an order recognizing their gender identity
• We need an order recognizing our child's gender identity but do not need to change their name

If only one parent is making the request (choose one):

• I want to change my child's name to match their gender identity
• I want to change my child's name AND get an order recognizing their gender identity
• I need an order recognizing my child's gender identity but do not need to change their name