Change Your Name in Michigan

Whether you are changing your name due to a recent divorce or marriage, or simply want a new name for personal reasons, the process of changing your name in Michigan is fairly straightforward. There are a lot of fees and forms along the way, but having patience and educating yourself going in can make the process smoother.

Steps

Getting Started

  1. Understand age-related requirements. In Michigan, different rules apply depending on your age and different documents and procedures are required.
    • For adults 22 or older, fingerprinting is required to conduct a criminal background check. You must have your fingerprints taken at a local police agency. If you're older than 18 but younger than 22 no fingerprinting is required if you do not have a criminal background.
    • For children under 18, a copy of the child's birth certificate must be filed.
  2. Know what documents are needed. A variety of documents must be filed to the proper courts before you can legally change your name. Make sure you know what documents you need.
    • A name change petition must be filled out and filed. The PDF can be downloaded at the Michigan state government website.
    • In cases of marriage or divorce, you will either need to file your marriage license or your divorce decree.[1]
  3. Prepare for fees. There are a variety of fees when changing your name, and it can be a costly process. Make sure you're financially prepared for fees ahead of time.
    • Fees may vary, but the court filing fee is generally around $160.
    • If you are required to make a newspaper announcement of a name change, the cost is $63.50.
    • If you're over 22, there's a charge for fingerprinting that depends on which police department you go through. It's generally $5-$10. For the additional background check, the fee should come to about $46.50.
    • If you need a copy of a child's birth certificate, this will cost $40. Any extra copies will cost $12.
    • It costs $9 to update your driver's license after your name change.

Changing Your Name as an Adult

  1. Fill out the petition. Before you begin the process of changing your name, you must fill out the name change petition. It can be found on the Michigan government website. It will ask for the following information:
    • Your current name and proposed changed name
    • Whether this name change is for a married person, a divorced person, an adult, or a minor
    • Your reasons for seeking a name change
    • Whether you have a criminal record
    • A signature and date[2]
  2. File the petition. Once you have completed the petition, and printed the correct number of copies, you must file the petition to a circuit court in your county. A list of circuit courts can be found on the Michigan government website. Certain conditions apply when filing the petition.
    • You must be a resident of the county for at least a year.
    • Your petition must explain the reasons for your request.
    • You must not be seeking a name change for fraudulent reasons. If you have a criminal background, you will be presumed to be seeking a name change with fraudulent intent and the change will not be ordered unless you prove otherwise.
  3. Get fingerprinted. If you are over 22, fingerprinting is required for a name change to be accepted. A complete set of fingerprints can be taken at a local police agency.
    • Bring a copy of your name change petition to the police station. This, alongside your set of fingerprints, will be forwarded to the Michigan Department of State Police.
    • The department will compare your fingerprints against its own records and will forward them to the FBI for further examination.
    • If there are no pending or current charges against you, your fingerprints will be destroyed.
  4. Publish a notice of your name change. Once your petition is filed, the court will set a time and place for your hearing. A notice of the hearing must be published. This is to smooth the transition for you and to give anyone with a similar name or the same name a chance to object.
    • You can publish the notice through a local newspaper. The notice must contain the proposed name and the time, date, and place of the hearing.
    • If there is good reason, such as concerns for your personal safety, the court may order that no publication of the hearing take place.
  5. Attend your hearing. When the date comes, you must attend your hearing in person and speak before a judge.
    • The judge will ask why you want to change your name, and you will have to provide the reasons.
    • You will be asked to raise your hand and swear you are not changing your name for fraudulent purposes.
    • This will take roughly 30 seconds. As long as your name change is approved, the judge will stamp a seal on his court order declaring your name legally changed.[3]
  6. Obtain any new documents you need. After the name change is accepted by a court, you will need a variety of updated documents.
    • A new birth certificate can be obtained at the Office of Vital Records.
    • A new social security card can be picked up at the Social Security Office.
    • The Secretary of State's Office should provide you with a new driver's license.
    • Fees may apply, depending on the office's location. Call and ask ahead of time so you know what payment methods are accepted.[3]

Changing the Name of a Minor

  1. Understand what restrictions apply. While the process of changing the name of a minor child is fairly similar to changing your name as an adult, certain restrictions apply. Make sure you are aware of these restrictions beforehand.
    • Both legal parents must consent to the name change.
    • If both parents do not consent, the custodial parent must prove to the court the child has not been substantially visited, contacted, or supported by the noncustodial parent for at least two years prior to filing the petition.
    • The non-custodial parent must be given legal notice of the hearing and a chance to object.
  2. Fill out the petition. The same petition for a legal name change must be filled out and filed. The petition will ask for:
    • The child's current name and the proposed changed name
    • The reasons for the name change
    • The name of the mother and the father
    • A signature and date[2]
  3. Publishing notice. After the time, date, and place of the hearing is set notice must be published in the case of a minor child. This gives any non-custodial legal parents who could not be contacted legally the chance to object.
    • Notice must be published in a local newspaper and include the time, date, and place of the hearing.
    • If there is valid reason, such as concerns for personal safety, that the hearing not be announced publicly the court may order no publication is required.


Tips

  • If you have any questions, call the circuit court and ask. Petitions sometimes get rejected because of clerical errors and you do not want this to happen to you.
  • If just married have your marriage certificate and if just divorced have your divorce decree.

Warnings

  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Changing the name of a minor child does not terminate the rights of a legal parent.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://info.legalzoom.com/change-name-after-marriage-michigan-20025.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://courts.mi.gov/Administration/SCAO/Forms/courtforms/namechange/pc51.pdf
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://lbgtrc.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/michigan_namechange_guide.pdf
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