Minor Name Change Procedure

Minor Name Change – Basic Procedures

Did you name your minor at the hospital and realized later the name does not match him or her or you started calling him or her by another name? You can rest assure that this is a common matter that most parents face after having a baby.

The process is easy and could be filed by one or both parents/legal guardians at your local courthouse. If one parent/ legal guardian files for the minor name change, the other biological parent/ legal guardian needs to approve by also signing the minor name change petition. That means the Petitioner (person filing for the minor name change) needs to have consent. If you can't get a signature from the other parent because you do not know the whereabouts of them, if they are incarcerated or any other reason, you will need to notify the courts. If the other parent simply does not agree and won’t sign for the minor name change, then your name change might not be approved by the judge.

In most states, adult and minor name changes need to be published in the local newspaper for 3-4 consecutive weeks, once a week. Once all the procedures are completed, and all papers are filed with the local courthouse, the judge will approve the name change. After you make copies of the name change decree, you will need to notify her doctor’s office, change her social security and you may amend her birth certificate by contacting Vital Records in your state.

For more information and assistance on your minor name change, feel free to contact us at (800) 327-1031 or visit www.courtlinked.com to get started.

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