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Take your forms to the court clerk. If you live in California, go to the Superior Court in the county where your child lives. If there are different locations, check your court’s website, talk to your Self-Help Center, or find the closest court to you where civil cases are filed.
In California, you can ask the court to legally change your child's name. If you and the other parent agree to change your child’s name, you can file a petition with the court together and publish a notice in a newspaper.
Start the name change process for your child. You start the process of changing your child's name by filling out court forms. These instructions are only if both parents will sign the petition. You'll need to follow different instructions if only one parent will sign the request.
In Illinois, both parents must be involved in the legal process to change a minor’s name, which includes completing and filing specific forms, providing notice to the non-custodial parent, and attending a court hearing.
Minors wishing to have their names changed must appear in court or via Zoom at their scheduled hearing date with their petitioning parent or legal guardian. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will either continue, grant or deny the petition.
Under Illinois law, if a parent wishes to change a child’s name, they can do so rather easily with the support of the other parent. The Illinois Parentage Act of 2015 states that “on the request of both parents, the court shall order a change in the child’s name.” 750 ILCS 46/802(h).
Name Change (Minor) Illinois Legal Aid Online provides a guided interview called an Easy Form that will help you fill out the forms. The Easy Form asks you questions and completes the necessary forms with your answers.
