Fill and Sign the Instructions for Filing for a Change of Name Minor Form

JDF 420 R 1-19 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING FOR A CHANGE OF NAME - MINOR Page 1 of 4 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING FOR A CHANGE OF NAME (MINOR) These standard instructions are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice about your case. If you choose to represent yourself, you are bound by the same rules and procedures as an attorney. GENERAL INFORMATION BEFORE YOU FILE YOUR PETITION  The minor child must be a resident of the county in which you are filing the Petition , OR  If the minor child is under the age of 19 years and is the subject of an action concerning child support, allocation of parental responsibilities, or parenting time, the Petition for Name Change must be filed in the District Court that has jurisdiction.  The Parent/Petitioner must be 18 years of age or older.  The minor child, if 14 years of age or ol der, must not have been adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for an offense that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult in this state or any other state or under federal law.  The Court will not consider a Petition for a name change for a minor 14 years of age or older , unless a fingerprint -based criminal history record check is conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.  Unless the Court has ordered that publication is not required, proof of publication must be completed and su bmitted to the Court prior to the name change being officially granted.  You may want to check with the Court where you plan to file your case for specific days or times when name change hearings are scheduled. You may have your hearing on the same day th at you file your case or a future hearing will be set.  For additional information, please review Colorado Revised Statute s §13 -15 -101 -10 2 C.R.S .  If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to access the courts, please contact your local ADA Coordinator. Contact information can be obtained from the following website: http://www.courts.state.co.us/Administration/HR/ADA/Coordinator_List.cfm COMMON TERMS  Petition: Document officially commences the Change of Name process.  Petitioner: The person filing a Petition for Change of Name.  Public Notice: Change of name shall be published at least three times within 2 1 days from the date of the Order in a legal n ewspaper in the county where this case is filed.  May: In legal terms, “may” is defined as “optional” or “can .”  Shall: In legal terms, “shall” is defined as “required .” If you do not understand this information, please contact an attorney. FEES The filing fee is $ 88 .00 if you file your Petition in County Court. If the minor child named in the Petition is the subject of a child support, allocation of parental responsibilities or parenting time action, you must file the Petition with the District Court that has jurisdiction in th e matter and pay a District Court filing fee of $2 38 .00 . If you are unable to pay, you must complete the Motion to File without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit (JDF 205) and submit it to the Court. Once you submi t the completed JDF 205 form and a blank Order (JDF 206) , the Court will decide whether you need to pay the filing fee. Other fees that a party to the case may encounter are as follows:  Publication Fee Va ries ( May be payable to the Court or to the new spaper)  Copies of Documents (Documents on File) $ .75 per page or $1.50 if double -sided  Copies of Documents (Documents not on File) $ .25 per page or $.50 if double -sided  Certification Fee $ 20 .00  Cost of Fingerprints (See fingerprinting information in Step 1)  Fingerprint -based Criminal History Check (See fingerprinting information in Step 1) JDF 420 R 1-19 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING FOR A CHANGE OF NAME - MINOR Page 2 of 4 FORMS To access forms online, go to the website at www.courts.st ate.co.us and click on the “Forms” tab. The packet/forms are available in PDF or WORD by selecting “County Civil - Minor Name Change ”. You may complete a form online and print or you may print it and type or print legibly in black ink. You may need all or some of these forms. Read these instructions carefully to determine what forms you may need.  JDF 421 Petition for Change of Name of a Minor Child  JDF 422 Notice to Non -Custodial Parent  JDF 423 Consent of Non -Custodial Parent  JDF 424 Reques t to Publish Notice and Order  JDF 425 Notice of Non -Custodial Parent by Publication  JDF 426 Order for Publication for Change of Name  JDF 427 Public Notice  JDF 448 Final Decree for Change of Name STEPS TO FILING YOUR CASE Step 1: Complete the required fingerprint -based criminal history record check. The minor child, if 14 years of age or older, must submit a criminal history check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the t ime the Petition is filed. Please follow these steps:  Law enforcement agencies are no longer required to provide fingerprinting for civil cases. Some law enforcement agencies will refer you to Colorado Application Background Services (CABS). Below is a lin k to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations website which includes information and instructions sorted by category: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/employment -background -checks Information for a FBI criminal history check can also be found on the CBI website.  The criminal history results must be conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.  If the minor child has an adjudication that would constitute a fe lony in Colorado or any other state, and you know that it is inaccurate, it is your responsibility to obtain the disposition information from the Court where such action occurred as identified in the CBI and FBI reports.  The Parent/Petitioner is also resp onsible for providing certified copies of any criminal dispositions of the minor child that are not reflected in the Colorado Bureau of Investigations or Federal Bureau of Investigation records and any other dispositions which are unknown, by contacting th e agency where such actions occurred. Step 2: Complete appropriate forms.  Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child (JDF 421) :  Complete all sections of this form .  If the child is under 19 and is the subject of a child support, allocation of parental responsibilities, or parenting time action, please check the appropriate box and identify the case number, type of case, and name of court.  Insert the minor child’s full legal name and proposed name change as identified in the caption on page 3.  Attach the FBI and CBI criminal history record results to the Petition and identify as Exhibit A.  Make sure that the fingerprint -based criminal history record check s are conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.  Attach any other criminal d isposition documentation and identify as Exhibit B.  You may be required to provide a birth certificate for the minor child . Check with the clerk when filing your case to determine if this is a requirement in that location. JDF 420 R 1-19 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING FOR A CHANGE OF NAME - MINOR Page 3 of 4 County Court District Court Denver Juvenile Court ________________________ ___ _ County, Colorado Court Address: In the Matter of the Petition of : Parent/Petitioner: (Insert your legal name here .) for: Minor Child: (Insert minor child’s full legal name here.) to change the child’s name to: (Identify proposed name of minor child here.) COURT USE ONLY Attorney or Party Without Attorney (Name and Address): Phone Number: E -mail: FAX Number: Atty. Reg. #: Case Number: Division Courtroom NAME OF FORM Consent and Notice Forms : (If the non -custodial parent is deceased, then the Parent/Petitioner should provide a death certificate ).  Consent of Non -Custodi al Parent (JDF 423) :  The non -custodial parent may complete this form and consent to the change of name of the minor child. or  Notice to Non -Custodial Parent (JDF 422) :  Proof of notice of hearing sent by certified mail with the attached return receipt signed by the addressee only (non -custodial parent) must be filed with the Court at least 14 days prior to the hearing.  The non -custodial parent must be advised of the date, time and location of the hearing and the right to appear. or  Request to Pub lish Notice and Order (JDF 424) and Notice to Non -Custodial Parent by Publication (JDF 425) :  If the location of the non -custodial parent is unknown, you may ask the Court to order publication of the notice in a newspaper.  Publication is to be made in a newspaper .at least three times within 21 days from the date of the Order for Publication for Change of Name (JDF 426) .  Complete all sections of this form.  The Judge or Magistrate will sign the Order for Publication (JDF 426) at the time of the hearing.  Public Notice (JDF 427) :  Complete all sections of this form.  This is the form that you will submit to the local newspaper to publish notice of the requested name change.  Final Decree for Change of Name (JDF 448) :  Complete caption only.  The Judge or Magistrate will sign the Decree.  This form will be returned to you only upon proof of publication. Step 3: You are ready to file your Petition with the Court. A Petition for a change of name must be filed in the County Court where the minor resides , unle ss the child is the subject of a child support or allocation of parental responsibilities (decision -making and parenting time ) action. If JDF 420 R 1-19 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING FOR A CHANGE OF NAME - MINOR Page 4 of 4 this situation applies to you, the Petition must be filed in District Court where the child support or allocation of parental responsibilities (decision -making and parenting time) action exists.  Provide the Court with the documents completed as described in Steps 1 – 2 above and pay the appropriate filing fee . County Court = $ 88 .00 Distric t/Denver Juvenile Court = $2 38 .00  Keep a copy of each form for your own records.  The Court may require a self -addressed stamped envelope. Step 4: Be prepared for your hearing , in the event there is a hearing . You may be asked questions about your request for a name change. Step 5: Publish proposed name change. After the Order for Publication is entered, the change of name must be published at least three times within 2 1 days from the date of the publication order in a local newspaper by using the Public Notice (JDF 427) for m, unless pursuant to §13 -15 -102, C.R.S. the minor child has been:  The victim of a crime, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by the Court; to include an act of domestic violence as defined in §18 -6-800.3(1), C.R.S.; or  The victim of chil d abuse as defined in §18 -6-401, C.R.S., or  The victim of domestic abuse as defined in §13 -14 -101(2), C.R.S. Step 6: Obtain a signed copy of the Decree for Name Change from the Court.  Submit proof of publication to the Court. This can include copies of t he newspaper notice.  If publication is not required pursuant to §13 -15 -102, C.R.S., you will receive your Decree once ordered by the Court.  If you need certified copies, please provide the appropriate fees.