How to Get a Name Change for a Minor Court Order Name Change

There's a fairly easy way to change a child's name or change child's last name. A name change petition form can be filed at your local court, and as long as the reason to get a name change isn't for fraudulent or improper reasons, it will usually be granted. How to change your name legally is a civil procedure which is begun by filling out a name change petition form and filing it at your local civil court where the child resides, along with applicable fees. A certified copy of the birth certificate will usually be required by the court. State laws vary, so US Legal Forms offers state-specific child name change packages with easy to follow instructions for your state. A hearing on child name change will be scheduled, and the court will make a decision based upon the child's best interests.

Often, changing last name requests are made due to adoption by a stepparent. Of course, there are other reasons for a request to change child's last name. The court will look at various factors in deciding whether or not to change a child's name. As long as the motives behind the request to change a child's name are found to be in the child's best interest, the minor name change petition will be granted. However, the court won't allow a person to legally change your name for wrongful motives, such as defrauding creditors, or denying another parent access.

Consent to Name Change Child Name Change

Both parents must consent to the child name change. If the parents live apart, the parent filing the name change petition must serve a copy on the other parent and obtain written consent. If the other parent doesn't consent, a copy of the certificate of service will need to be brought to court and it will be up to the judge to determine whether it's in the minor's best interests to change a child's name. Some states require the child's consent to get a name change if he or she is over a certain age.

After You Get a Name Change Minor Child Name Change

After an order to change a child's name is granted, a copy of the name change order can be presented to a school, insurance company, passport office, and the Social Security Administration to get new i.d. cards issued and have records updated to reflect the name change for a minor. The vital statistics office in the state of birth will need to be contacted for procedures on using the name change order to change a child's name on a birth certificate.

You should be aware that when you get a name change for a child, it does not relieve either parent of a duty of support. If the child's natural parents are divorced or separated, any duty to pay child support will not be affected by the order to change a child's name unless it is part of a stepparent adoption. Only when there is a legal adoption by a stepparent, along with a request or a name change for a minor, will there be a duty of child support on the stepparent. In fact, stepparent adoption will create a duty of child support even if the minor doesn't file a name change petition.

US Legal Forms offers child name change petition forms and packages professionally drafted for the laws of your state. Our affordable, top quality packages come with step-by-step instructions that make it easy to complete a name change petition from the comfort of your own computer.