Change Your Name in Wisconsin

Changing your name in the state of Wisconsin requires a few very specific guidelines—as in any state, really. Under the State code 786.37, a resident may change their name after marriage, after divorce, or for personal reasons by filing a name change petition to the county court clerk's office. Here are some specific guidelines to changing your name in Wisconsin.

Steps

Changing Your Name After Marriage or Divorce

  1. Get a marriage certificate. Apply for marriage licenses after you have set your wedding date and complete the application between seven and 30 days beforehand.[1] Apply with the county clerk of court. The officiator of your wedding will send the signed license in to be recorded, after which you will receive a marriage certificate.
  2. Get a divorce or annulment certificate. After a divorce has been finalized, you may apply for a copy of the certificate by mail, in person, or by fax. You must have either a Wisconsin driver's license, Wisconsin state ID, or out-of-state driver's license or ID card. If you do not have one of these, you can use two of the following: U.S. government-issued photo ID, passport, checkbook/bank statement, health insurance card, current lease (signed and dated), utility bill or traffic ticket, paycheck or earnings statement. Apply in person at 1 West Wilson Street, Room 160, in Madison, Wisconsin. You will need a certified copy to change your name.
    • To request by mail, send your application to Wisconsin Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI, 53701-0309.
  3. Change your name with the Social Security Administration. Complete the SS-5 form. Gather certified copies of marriage or divorce or annulment certificate. Bring the completed SS-5 form and certified copies of marriage or divorce certificates along with a Wisconsin driver's license, state ID, or passport to the SSA office. You will also need a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. citizenship certificate, or work authorization letter and I-94.[2]
    • You can also apply by mail by mailing your documents to your local SSA office along with the SS-5 form; your documents will be mailed back to you.[3]
    • You will receive your documents and new social security card with your new name by mail.
  4. Change your name on your driver's license or state ID. Provide a current Wisconsin driver’s license (with photo), a non-expired U.S. passport, or your Social Security card to your local DMV office along with a completed MV3001 form (MV3004 for state ID). Also, provide proof of your name change, such as your marriage certificate (original/certified copy), record of divorce (certified), or U.S. passport showing your new name. You will have to surrender your current driver's license with your old name, and pay a fee of $14 for a driver's license or $16 for a state ID.[4]
  5. Change your name on your car title and registration. It is optional to change your name on your car title and registration, but you can do so if you wish. Visit your local DMV office with your current title and pay the $5 fee.[5]

Changing Your name for Other Reasons

  1. Complete Name Change Forms. There are several documents that you must fill out to begin the process of getting your name legally changed. These forms must be notarized[6] and include the following:
    • A Petition for Name Change form.
    • The Notice and Order for Name Change Hearing form.
    • An Order for Name Change form (the Clerk of Court in your county may fill this form out for you).
  2. Submit forms. Be sure to check with your county's Clerk of Court to see if any additional copies are required. Submit the forms and copies (if applicable) to your county's Clerk of Court office. Fees may apply, so check with the Clerk of Court office before submitting to find out how much you may be required to pay in fees at the time of submitting forms.[7]
  3. Publish Your New Name. Wisconsin state law requires that you publish a third class notice of your Notice of Hearing once a week for three weeks prior to your hearing in the classified section of your local newspaper in the city, village or town where you reside. The Clerk of Court may direct you to a specific newspaper. You will be responsible for the publication fee.[8]
    • Upon successful publication for three weeks, you will receive an Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper. Contact the Clerk of Court to file this affidavit prior to your hearing.[9]
  4. Attend your hearing. Be sure to arrive on time and be polite throughout. The reasons for which you are changing your name or your child's name may be emotional for you, but try to keep it to yourself during the hearing.[10] Bring an original or certified birth certificate for the judge's review.
    • You will also need the Affidavit of Publication.
    • You will be placed under oath, and the judge may ask you questions about the information you have included on your petition.
    • If the name change is approved, the judge will sign the Order for Name Change. If not, he or she will fill out an Order Denying Name Change form.
  5. Bring your signed Order for Name Change to the Clerk of Court office. The order must be filed with the Clerk of Court. If any stipulations to the order were made at the hearing that require your attention, address those before filing.[11]
    • The Order for Name Change will act as your official certificate to change your name at any public or private institution, such as your work place, etc.
  6. Record a certified Order for Name Change with the Register of Deeds office. Procedures for recording the Order for Name Change may vary by county. You must register your certified copy in the county where the name change occurred.[12]
    • Check with the county Register of Deeds to see what fees may apply.

Changing the Name of a Child Under 14 Years Old

  1. Complete Petition for Name Change form. There is a separate Petition for Name Change form for someone under 14 years of age. Be sure to fill out this form specifically, and have it notarized.[13]
  2. Submit Petition for Name Change form. Check with your county's Clerk of Court to see if any additional copies are required. Submit the forms and copies (if applicable) to your county's Clerk of Court office. Fees may apply, so check with the Clerk of Court office before submitting to find out how much you may be required to pay in fees at the time of submitting forms.[14]
  3. Serve non-petitioning parent with forms. For persons under 14 years of age, the non-petitioning parent must be served with the Petition for Name Change of Name and Notice and Order for Name Change Hearing forms. A sheriff or private process sever must be the one to serve the non-petitioning parent with the forms. The petitioning parent is responsible for the associated fees, and the non-petitioning parent must be served far enough in advance of the hearing.[15]
    • You will receive proof of service after the non-petitioning parent has been served the notice. Make a copy of the form and take the original to the Clerk of Court for filing. Bring a copy to the hearing.
    • If the non-petitioning parent cannot be served, you will be given an Affidavit/Certificate of Non-Service. Using this, complete an Affidavit of Attempted Service on Non-Petitioning Parent form. File this form with the Clerk of Court prior to your hearing.
  4. Get consent from non-petitioning parent. For name changes of persons under 14, the non-petitioning parent will be required to give consent to the name change if they respond to the notice or appear at the hearing, provided they have not abandoned the child or failed to meet parental responsibility.[16]
    • A Response of Non-Petitioning Parent to Name Change of Minor Child Under 14 form may be used to document the non-petitioning parent's position on the name change. You may need to file this form with the Clerk of Court.

Tips

  • If just divorced, be sure to have your divorce decree.
  • If just married, be sure to have your marriage certificate.
  • Be sure to change your name on bank accounts, credit cards, leases or mortgages, car titles, voter registration and your U.S. passport.
  • Change your name at places of business that you frequent, including your files at any medical or dental offices and on post office boxes.

Related Articles

References

  1. ↑ http://www.usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/wisconsin/
  2. ↑ https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-01981
  3. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
  4. ↑ http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/rnew-and-chge/name-change.aspx
  5. ↑ http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/rnew-and-chge/name-change.aspx
  6. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  7. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  8. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  9. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  10. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  11. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  12. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  13. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  14. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  15. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
  16. ↑ https://www.wicourts.gov/formdisplay/CV-490_instructions.pdf?formNumber=CV-490&formType=Instructions&formatId=2&language=en
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