If you want to change your name because of marriage, you should make sure to complete your marriage license and any other forms necessary to finalize the marriage. [1] X Research source These documents can then be used as proof of your name change for other purposes, such as getting a new Social Security card and driver’s license. You do not have to apply through court to change your last name because of marriage. If you want to change your name because of divorce, there will be an opportunity to address this during the court proceedings for the divorce. Your divorce decree can then be used as proof of your name change for other purposes, such as getting a new Social Security card and driver’s license. If you do not request to change your name while filing for a divorce, but want to afterwards, you will have to go through the normal court process of applying to change your name as an adult.
A new Social Security card will then be issued to you with your new name. You can then use this as proof of your name change for general reasons.
Arizona law requires you to request a new license within 10 days of changing your name. Wait two days after you have changed your name with the Social Security Administration so that the information can be verified by the MVD. [4] X Research source Bring an original or certified copy of your marriage certificate/license or divorce decree with you. [5] X Research source There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name. [6] X Research source
You can find information about the individual county courts via the Arizona Judicial Branch’s website. [7] X Research source The process for changing a name has many steps, requires a number of official documents, and is not the same in all counties in Arizona. While you can complete the process on your own, if you do not fully understand or know how to complete each of the steps, you should contact an attorney for advice and representation.
Your birth name (as it appears on your birth certificate), date of birth, and place of birth Your current legal name and address Any other names you have gone by (for example, from a previous marriage, a name change, or an alias) The name you would like to change to Information on any prior or outstanding criminal charges (felony and misdemeanor) against you
You must be 18 years or older in order to apply for a name change. If you are younger than that, a parent or legal guardian will have to request the name change on your behalf. [8] X Research source [9] X Research source If you are applying to change your name and you have a child, the other parent must complete and sign a form consenting to the name change. This form must also be signed by a deputy of the court or notary public.
You can find a notary public near you via the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. [10] X Research source The cost for notarization, if any, should be low. Under most circumstances, Arizona law limits the fee a notary public can charge for a signature to $2 or less.
You can also mail the original application and two copies to the Arizona court nearest you. If you mail the papers, included a self-addressed stamped envelope so the court can return conformed copies of the “Application for Name Change” to you. To find the court nearest to you, check the Arizona Judicial Branch’s website, which maintains the most current information about the addresses and contact information for the various courts in each county.
If your spouse does not agree with your request (or if you are not sure if he or she does), then you should still provide him or her with a stamped copy of the “Notice of Hearing Regarding Application for Change of Name. ” In addition, have your spouse sign and notarize a form called “Acceptance of Service,” and bring this form to your hearing. [17] X Research source Your spouse can also sign a form called “Affidavit of Service by Certified Mail” to confirm notice of the name change request via mail. If you do not know where your spouse lives, then you must advertise a “Notice of Hearing” in your local newspaper (and in a newspaper in the last known Arizona county of residence, if this is known and if it differs from the county you currently live in). [18] X Research source You must run this advertisement at least once a week for four consecutive weeks before your hearing. Contact your newspaper’s classifieds section for information about how to place a legal notice classified. After these four weeks, you must obtain and file an “Affidavit of Publication” from the newspaper. All forms needed for this step are available via the Arizona Judicial Branch’s website, and/or via the website of your county court.
Two copies of “Order Changing Name for an Adult” to be signed by the judge (one for the court and one to be certified and returned to you) Government-issued photo identification (passport, driver’s license, etc. ) If you are not a citizen of the United States, then you must also bring your passport or proof of immigration status. A copy of your Arizona birth certificate (if you were born in the state). Court-certified copies of all documents that you had to file in the process of requesting the name change Your Divorce Decree (if applicable) Any previous Name Change orders you may have Proof of naturalization or resident alien status (if applicable) A copy of any Orders of Protection and/or Injunctions Against Harassment that are in effect (if applicable) Payment for any court fees or requests for certified copies (if applicable)
Typically, you can pay by cash, credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express), check (in-state), or money order. Checks or money orders should be made out to “Clerk of Superior Court,” unless directed otherwise by your local court. [21] X Research source In many cases, you can request a deferred payment plan if you cannot afford these fees right away. [22] X Research source [23] X Research source
Go to your local Social Security office and get a new card by showing proof of your legal name change (your court documents), proof of your identity, and proof of U. S. citizenship (government issued documents like a passport, birth certificate, and driver’s license can establish this). [24] X Trustworthy Source US Social Security Administration Independent U. S. government agency that administers Social Security and related information Go to source Take your name change documents, your new social security card, and your current driver’s license to the MVD and request a new driver’s license with your new name. Do so within 10 days of changing your name. [25] X Research source There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name. [26] X Research source Send copies of your name change documents and an application to amend your birth certificate to the Arizona Department of Health Service’s Office of Vital Records (forms and instructions are available via its website). [27] X Research source [28] X Research source If you were born in a different state, you will need to contact the Bureau of Vital Records in that state in order to change your name on your birth certificate, as there may be different requirements. Change your name on all other documents and accounts. Some accounts you will need to change include (but are not limited to): bank and credit card accounts, mortgages, car titles, voter registration, passport, and doctor’s offices. Contact the relevant offices or agencies for instructions on changing your name in their records.
The child must currently live in the county in which you file the request. For example, if your child lives in Maricopa County, you must file the name change petition with that court.
If you only need to change the child’s name on her birth certificate, you can so do easily within the first year after the child’s birth. After 1 year, the change requires a court order. [29] X Research source For further information, contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 601-364-1237. [30] X Research source [ Complete and file the Affidavit to Correct or Amend a Birth Certificate with the Arizona Department of Health Services. You will also need to provide various documentation, depending on how old the child is. See the Arizona Vital Records website for full information. Any name you choose for the child must be shown to be in his or her best interest. For example, if you adopted the child, a name change would clearly be in the child’s best interest as you are making the change to fully incorporate him or her into your family. On the other hand, a frivolous name change, such as wanting to change your child’s name to “Daenerys Stormborn” or “Coca-Cola,” is unlikely to be demonstrably in the child’s best interest.
You can find your court at the Arizona Courts Locator here.
Full name Address Relationship to you Date and place of birth New name you are requesting You will also need to provide a statement about the reasons why you are requesting the name change. Be as clear as possible here.
You will also need to provide information about yourself. It will ask the name of the Plaintiff, which is you; there is no defendant in this case. The form also asks for the name of your attorney. If you are using a family law attorney, provide her name. If you are not using an attorney, you are representing yourself pro se and should give your own name in this space.
Bring your completed forms and payment for the filing fee. Plan to arrive at least two hours before the office closes. Contact the Clerk of Court if you are not sure of their hours. [32] X Research source
If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you may apply for an Application for Fee Deferral, which will offer a payment plan. This application requires you to provide copies of your two most recent paystubs. [33] X Research source Give your forms, including the copies, to the Clerk. Make sure the Clerk stamps your copies and gives them back to you. The Clerk will retain the original Application and civil cover sheet. [34] X Research source
After you have scheduled your hearing, you must fill out the Notice of Hearing Regarding Application for Change of Name form. You can find this online from your courthouse website, or get a copy when you pick up your other forms. Fill in the date, time, and location of your hearing and make a copy of the form. [35] X Research source File this form with the Clerk of Court just as you did for the application.
If the child is 14 or older (but under 18), s/he must sign a notarized consent to change the name, or attend the name change hearing. If the other parent agrees with the name change, provide him/her with one of the stamped copies of the application and a copy of the Notice of Hearing form. Ask the parent to complete the Consent of Parent to Name Change of a Minor Child and Waiver of Notice form and sign it before a notary. [37] X Research source You must bring the signed, notarized Consent form to the hearing. If the other parent does not agree with the name change, provide him/her with one of the stamped copies of the application and a copy of the Notice of Hearing form. Ask the person to complete an Acceptance of Service form and sign it in the presence of a notary. (You can find this online or at the courthouse. ) Bring the signed, notarized Acceptance form to the hearing. If the other person will not sign a form, you may send one of the stamped copies of the application and a copy of the Notice of Hearing form to the parent by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested. This will deliver the form only to the recipient you specify and shows as your proof that you have notified the parent. You must bring the return receipt from the Post Office and a completed Affidavit of Service by Certified Mail form You must serve this notification at least 30 days before the hearing.
You will also need to obtain and file an Affidavit of Publication from the publishing newspaper. You will further need to complete a Declaration Supporting Publication, which states in detail the efforts you made to notify the other person. You must sign this in front of a notary and bring it to the hearing with you.
Two copies of the Order Changing Name for a Minor, filled out but not signed Photo ID for yourself Clerk-stamped copies of all filed forms Proof of Notice Notarized consent form or other proof that you served notification to the other parent Prior name change orders, if applicable Proof of naturalization or resident alien status, if applicable A certified copy of the child(ren)’s official government-issued birth certificate. Do not bring a hospital birth certificate; this will not work. Adoption decree, if applicable Proof of Guardianship, if applicable Passport or proof of immigration status if you are not a US citizen
You may need to pay for a certified copy of the court order to complete the name change with other agencies. If this is the case, ask the Clerk’s office how to obtain a certified copy and pay the appropriate fee.
You must also provide proof of your identity and proof of your child’s identity. A US driver license, state-issued non-driver ID, or US passport is sufficient. If your child does not have any of these documents, you may provide one of the following: Adoption decree Doctor, clinic, or hospital record Religious record, such as baptismal certificate School daycare center record School ID If you have not already established citizenship with the Social Security office, you must provide proof of U. S. citizenship for you and your child (government issued documents like a passport, birth certificate, and driver’s license can establish this). [40] X Trustworthy Source US Social Security Administration Independent U. S. government agency that administers Social Security and related information Go to source
There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name. [42] X Research source
See the Office of Vital Records website for full details. If your child was adopted, there is a slightly different process. If the child was born in Arizona and adopted in Arizona, the Office of Vital Records will amend the birth certificate within the month after the adoption is finalized. If your child was born in another state or country and adopted in Arizona, the Office of Vital Records will forward a request to amend the birth certificate to the appropriate registration authority. In most cases you do not need to do anything. [45] X Research source
Visit the State Department’s website for full information on changing your child’s passport.
This letter should confirm the date of your medical procedure and be signed, dated, and notarized.
The court order needs to explicitly state that the “name may be changed on the Arizona birth certificate. "
On the Application for a Social Security Card you will need to specify that you want a “corrected” social security card under “type of card. " Gender details do not appear on social security cards, but to change your gender filed with the Social Security Administration, you can show a state-issued amended birth certificate, a physician’s letter certifying clinical treatment, or a ten-year U. S. passport showing the appropriate gender marker. [49] X Research source
There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name. [50] X Research source Arizona law requires you to request a new license within 10 days of changing your name. Wait two days after you have changed your name with the Social Security Administration so that the information can be verified by the MVD. [51] X Research source You may want to bring all associated documents with you when you go to the MVD, in case you are asked for more verification. It is likely that the person processing your application will have to contact a supervisor. Don’t panic. You have the right to change your name and gender marker, as per 3. 1. 1 of the MVD Policy.
If you were born in a different state, you will need to contact the Bureau of Vital Records in that state in order to change your name on your birth certificate, as there may be different requirements.
If you are changing your name and gender identification on your US passport, please see the State Department’s website for information. You are usually eligible for a two-year passport if you are still transitioning, and for a full ten-year passport if your transition is complete. [54] X Research source
