Change Your Name in Arizona
In Arizona, adults can change their name for a number of reasons: after a marriage, after a divorce or simply for personal reasons. You may also change the name of a minor child in some cases. Arizona also allows you to change your name and gender identification on legal documents. To legally change a name you must complete and submit a number of official documents, and in some cases, appear in court for a hearing. You can go through all of these steps on your own. However, you will need to have a bit of perseverance, patience, and attention to detail in order to successfully navigate all of the bureaucracies involved in the process.
Contents
Steps
Changing Your Name Because of Marriage or Divorce
- Complete your marriage or divorce. In Arizona, you have the opportunity to change your name during the normal proceedings of becoming married or getting a divorce, and you may not have to apply separately for a court-ordered name change.
- 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. 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.
- Apply to change your name with the Social Security Administration. Go to your local Social Security office and show proof of your legal name change (your marriage license showing your new name, or your divorce decree), proof of your identity (for example, a passport and/or driver's license), and proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a birth certificate).
- 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.
- Apply for a name change on your driver's license. Take your new social security card and your current driver's license to the Motor Vehicle Department. If you have the correct documentation, they will issue you a new driver's license with your new name.
- 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.
- Bring an original or certified copy of your marriage certificate/license or divorce decree with you.
- There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name.
- 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.
Petitioning to Change Your Name for Other Reasons
- Choose a valid reason for changing your name. Aside from changing your name because of marriage or divorce, you can change your name for personal reasons, provided you have court approval to do so. These include: if you dislike your current name, if you want to change for religious reasons, or if you want to take a partner's name without marrying. These are all common reasons for electing to change your name, but the court will decide to approve or deny the request.
- Verify the process with the superior court clerk of the county in which you live. Not all forms will be accepted in all Arizona counties, and different counties may require different steps.
- You can find information about the individual county courts via the Arizona Judicial Branch’s website.
- 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.
Check with the court of the county that you live in to verify the steps and forms that are required to legally change your name, or your child’s, or family’s, etc.
- Fill out an "Application for Change of Name" or equivalent document. The general “Application for Change of Name” is available for download via the Arizona Judicial Branch’s website.
- 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
Some counties will have a different, equivalent form; Coconino, for instance, requires you to complete a “Petition for Name Change.” You will need to have certain information ready to complete the “Application for Change of Name,” including:
- Consider associated name changes. If you are also applying to change the name of another person (such as your child), you will need equivalent information on this person. Depending on the county you live in, you may also need a separate form requesting a name change for a minor or family.
- 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.
- 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.
- Have the document notarized. You will need to sign an oath on the “Application for Change of Name” attesting that the information on the document is correct. You will also need to have the document witnessed and signed by a deputy of the court or a notary public.
- You can find a notary public near you via the Arizona Secretary of State's website.
- 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.
- Complete a Civil Cover Sheet. In some Arizona counties, you will need to supply a Civil Cover Sheet with your “Application for Change of Name” or equivalent document. This simply tells the court clearly what your application is in regards to. You can download this sheet from the website of your local county court.
- File the application at the nearest county clerk’s office, or mail it. Include the original application, plus two copies. The court will keep the original and return the stamped (“conformed”) copies to you.
- 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.
- Schedule a court hearing regarding the name change. You will receive a “Notice of Hearing Regarding Application for Change of Name” from the court you filed your application with. This shows that your application was received, and will provide information about when and where you are to appear in court to have your name change request heard. You will need to fill out and return this “Notice of Hearing” to the court to confirm.
- Download and fill out the "Order Changing Name for an Adult" form. This is available via the Arizona Judicial Branch's website. You will need to include your name and contact details on it. Bring two copies of this form to court with you. They will be signed by a judge (one is for the court and one will be certified and returned to you).
- Notify your spouse, if applicable. Depending on the county that you live in, you may need to notify your spouse that you are requesting a name change. If your spouse agrees with the name change, provide him or her with a stamped copy of the “Notice of Hearing Regarding Application for Change of Name.” In addition, your spouse must sign and have notarized a form called “Consent of Spouse to Name Change of an Adult and Waiver of Notice.” Bring this form to your court hearing.
- 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.
- 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). 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.
- Attend your hearing. Make sure to appear in court on the right date and at the right time for your hearing. You must be present in court to request a name change. If the request is approved, the court will then complete a form declaring the name change and making it official. You will need to bring various documents with you to 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)
- Pay any associated fees. To legally change a name in Arizona, you must pay court and document fees associated with the process. These will vary by county, with the fees in many counties totaling more than $200.
- 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.
- In many cases, you can request a deferred payment plan if you cannot afford these fees right away.
- Announce your name change. If your request to change your name is legally approved, then you must notify all public and private institutions that require your name for business or operations of the fact that your name has changed.
- 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).
- 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. There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name.
- 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).
- 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.
Changing a Child's Name
- Determine if you are able to change the child's name. The state of Arizona allows the child's parent or legal guardian to change the name of a child under 18.
- 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.
- Determine if you need a court order. If you are only amending the child's name on a birth certificate, you may not need a court order. If you are changing the child's name for any other reason, including adoption, you must request a court order.
- 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. For further information, contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 601-364-1237. [
- 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.
- Get the proper form. For a child, you must fill out the Application for Change of Name for a Minor Child. You can get the appropriate form from your county courthouse, by visiting in person or by visiting the court’s website.
- Fill out the form correctly. Use only black ink to fill out the form. Do not fold it, and try to avoid staining the forms. You will need to provide the following information about the child:
- 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.
- Fill out the Civil Cover Sheet. This sheet will accompany your name change petition. It tells the court the type of civil action you are requesting. In this case, you will tick Box 152, “Change of Name,” on page 2 of the form.
- 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.
- Make two copies of the forms. Make two additional copies of the Application for Change of Name for a Minor Child. You do not need to make a copy of the civil cover sheet.
- Go to your Clerk of Court. You may file the forms at any county courthouse within your county, or any Clerk of the Superior Court’s office. Some larger counties may have more than one location at which you may file.
- 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.
- File your forms and pay the fee. The Clerk of Court will walk you through the filing process. You will need to pay a filing fee in most cases. Most offices will accept cash, money order, personal check with photo ID, or Visa or Mastercard. Check with your Clerk’s office to make sure you know what type(s) of payment they accept. The fee may vary by county. In Maricopa County, the fee for Petition of Change of Name is $319.
- 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.
- 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.
- Schedule your court hearing. You must wait at least 4 business days after filing the application before contacting the court to schedule a hearing. Call the Court Administration office at the location where you filed your forms to schedule your hearing.
- 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.
- File this form with the Clerk of Court just as you did for the application.
- Notify the correct people. If you are the child's parent, you must notify the other parent of a prospective name change. You must notify both parents if you are the child's legal guardian.
- 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. 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 to the hearing. You must serve this notification at least 30 days before the hearing.
- Notify via publication. If you do not know where the other parent lives, you are allowed to serve notification via “publication” in a newspaper. You will publish a Notice of Hearing in the legal section of the newspaper’s classifieds once a week for 4 consecutive weeks before the hearing. Ask the Clerk of Court how to proceed.
- 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.
- Get the Order Changing Name for a Minor form. You can get this at the courthouse or online. Fill out two copies, but do not sign it until you are in the presence of the judge at your hearing. ]
- Attend the hearing. You must attend the hearing at court at the time, date, and location stipulated. If the child is 14 or older, the child must also be present at the hearing. Alternately, the child may sign a notarized statement consenting to the change of name.
- 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
Make sure to bring all the necessary forms to the hearing. You will need to bring the following:
- Receive the court order. If the Judge approves your name change petition, you will sign the form in front of him or her. The Judge will then sign the form, making the order official. Go to the Customer Service Counter at the courthouse to receive a confirmed copy of the court order.
- 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.
- Change your child's name with Social Security. Go to your local Social Security office and get a new card. You will need to show proof of your child's legal name change, such as the finalized adoption decree, the name change court order, or an amended birth certificate with the new name.
- 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 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).
- 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 the following:
- Change your child's driver license. If your child has an Arizona driver license, you must take your child's name change documents, your child's new social security card, and your child's current driver license to the MVD and request a new driver license with your child's new name. Do so within 10 days of changing your child's name.
- There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name.
- Amend your child's birth certificate. The process to amend the name on your child's birth certificate varies depending on how old your child is. You will need to send copies of your name change documents and an application to amend your child's birth certificate to the Arizona Department of Health Service's Office of Vital Records (forms and instructions are available via its website).
- 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.
- Change your child's name on his or her passport. If your child has a US passport, you will need to change the name so that s/he can travel internationally. The process varies depending on how long it has been since your child's passport was issued.
- Visit the State Department's website for full information on changing your child's passport.
Changing Your Name and Gender Assignment
- Get a letter from a doctor stating you have undergone sexual reassignment surgery. In Arizona, if you want to change your name and gender assignment on legal documents, you will need a letter from a doctor stating that you have undergone sexual reassignment surgery or that the chromosomal count that establishes your sex is different than that on your birth certificate.
- This letter should confirm the date of your medical procedure and be signed, dated, and notarized.
- Apply for a court-ordered name change. Follow the steps above in the method "Petitioning to Change Your Name for Other Reasons." You will need a copy of the court order approving your name change in order to get your name and gender changed on your birth certificate and your driver's license.
- The court order needs to explicitly state that the "name may be changed on the Arizona birth certificate."
- Change your name and gender with the Social Security Administration. You will need to complete an Application for a Social Security Card and include with it proof of your legal name change (the court order of change of name), 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).
- 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.
- Apply for a name change on your driver's license. Take your name change documents, your new social security card, and your current driver's license to the MVD. If you have the correct documentation, they will issue you a new driver's license with your new name and your correct gender assignment.
- There is a $12 fee for a replacement license with your new name.
- 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.
- 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.here. You can print out a copy of this policy
- Change your name and gender on your birth certificate. Contact the Arizona Office of Vital Records once you have the court-ordered name change. You will need to provide the letter from the court and the letter from your doctor. The state of Arizona will then issue a new birth certificate, rather than amend your old one.
- 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.
- 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.
Related Articles
- Change Your Name in California
- Change Your Name in New Mexico
- Change Your Name in Utah
- Change Your Name in Florida
- Change Your Last Name
- Divorce in Arizona
Sources and Citations
- http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/SuperiorCourt/Self-ServiceCenter/Forms/CivilCases/civil_cvnca1.asp
- https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212035
- ↑ http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/questions.asp#changing%20a%20name
- http://www.azlawhelp.org/viewquestions.cfm?sc=8&mc=1&qid=13008
- ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10513.pdf
- ↑ https://www.azdot.gov/mvd/driver-services/driver-license-information/change-your-address-or-name
- http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/driver-services/driver-license-information/change-your-address-or-name
- ↑ https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/SelfServiceForms/NameChangeForms.aspx
- http://www.azcourts.gov/AZCourts/AZCourtsLocator.aspx
- https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/34/Forms/NameChange/CVNC11fFinal.pdf
- ↑ http://www.mohavecourts.com/court%20forms/Clerks%20Office/Name%20Change/NCProcChangeNameAdult-sc.pdf
- ↑ http://coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1868
- https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/34/Forms/NameChange/CVNC15fFinal.pdf
- http://apps.azsos.gov/scripts/Notary_Search.dll
- http://www.mohavecourts.com/court%20forms/Clerks%20Office/Civil/CVCivilCoverSh-sc.pdf
- http://www.azd.uscourts.gov/cvcover.html
- http://www.azcourts.gov/AZCourts/AZCourtsLocator.aspx
- https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/34/Forms/NameChange/CVNC18fFinal.pdf
- http://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/34/Forms/NameChange/CVNC81fFinal.pdf
- http://www.gilacountyaz.gov/government/courts/clerk_of_the_court/docs/GilaSuperiorCourtFeeScheduleEff03_18_2013.pdf
- http://www.lapazsuperiorcourtclerk.com/uploads/2/8/5/9/2859444/2014_fee_schedulemay19th.pdf
- http://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/clerk-of-superior-court/fees/civil
- http://courts.yavapai.us/selfservicecenter/files/2012/02/NCADUi.pdf
- ↑ http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/36/00323.htm&Title=36&DocType=ARS
- ↑ http://www.azdhs.gov/vital-records/corrections-amendments/
- http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/SuperiorCourt/Self-ServiceCenter/Forms/CivilCases/civil_cvncm1.asp
- ↑ http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscdocs/packets/cvncm1.pdf
- http://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/vital-records/index.php#corrections-amendments-childs-name
- ↑ http://www.coscpinalcountyaz.gov/assets/name-change-(minor)-packet.pdf
- http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/fees.asp
- http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscDocs/pdf/cvncm10pz.pdf
- http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscDocs/pdf/dr22fz.pdf/
- http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/sscDocs/pdf/cvnc24fz.pdf
- https://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm
- http://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/vital-records/index.php#adoption-amend-birth-certificate
- http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/services/correction.html#Changes
- http://www.lambdalegal.org/know-your-rights/transgender/changing-birth-certificate-sex-designations
- ↑ http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html
- https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/transgender-people-and-law?redirect=lgbt-rights/know-your-rights-transgender-people-and-law
- http://lgbtq.arizona.edu/name-and-gender-change-0
- http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/gender.html