- 1). Satisfy basic requirements. You must be a resident of your county for at least one year before you can file a change of name for your baby. You must not be seeking the name change for fraudulent reasons.
- 2). Satisfy parental requirements. You must be the natural or adoptive parent of the baby. Both parents must consent to a change of name for a child under the age of 14. If one parent does not consent, the other parent must be able to prove that the non-consenting parent has neglected parental duties of the child for at least two years. If there is only one surviving parent, then that parent can give consent. A legal guardian can give consent if both parents of the child are deceased.
- 3). File a Petition to Change Name, form PC 51. File the form with the circuit court in the county where your baby lives. Ensure that you file the total number of copies required by the court. You can find this number at the upper right corner of the form.
- 4). Obtain a hearing date. The court will set the date, time and place.
- 5). Serve a copy of the petition as well as a notice of the hearing to the non-custodial parent, if applicable. Use the Notice of Hearing form PC 562. You may serve these documents in person, via mail or through someone legally authorized to serve, such as a lawyer or a sheriff.
- 6). Use the Publication of Notice form PC 563 to publish a notice of name change in a local newspaper. This notice must include the current and intended name of your baby as well as the date, time and place of the hearing. If there is good cause not to publish this notice, then the court will waive this requirement and the case will become confidential.
- 7). Attend the hearing on the specified date. It is best to arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
- 8). Pay a fee for the court to enter the order of the name change. This is paid to the court clerk, and you can obtain an additional certified copy of the order for an additional fee.
- 9). Serve a copy of the order on the noncustodial parent within seven days from the date on which the order is granted. File a proof of service on the noncustodial parent with the court. If you mailed a copy of the order via certified mail with return receipt, you can use the receipt as proof of service.
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Change the name on your baby's birth certificate. If you wish to do so, file a copy of the order with the State Registrar at the Vital Records Office of the Department of Community Health.
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