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Name Change Form Minnesota Judicial Branch

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Order Granting Name Change And Other Relief

State of Minnesota County:

District Court Judicial District:

Court File Number:

Case Type:

In the Matter of:

First: Middle: Last:

For a change of name to:

First: Middle: Last:

Order Granting Name Change

And Other Relief

(Minn. Stat. § 259.10, § 144.218, and § 144.2181)

The above entitled matter came on for hearing before the undersigned Judge on upon the Application for a Name Change and Other Relief. Upon the testimony and files, THE COURT FINDS the following:

1. The application is made in good faith without intent to defraud or mislead.

2. The applicant(s) has/have lived in the State of Minnesota for at least six months preceding the filing of the application, and now live at:

Street: City/Town: State: Zip:

in County.

3. Name of applicant and date of birth:

4. Name of spouse and date of birth:

This application does does not include spouse.

5. Name(s) of minor children and date(s) of birth:





This application does not include minor children listed above.
This application includes the following minor children listed above:

6. This applicant requests:

To have his/her name changed to

To have his/her name changed on birth records created or maintained by the Minnesota Department of Health to

To have his/her sex changed on birth records created or maintained by the Minnesota Department of Health to

To have the Minnesota Department of Health issue and register a replacement birth record. Applicant further requests the prior birth record be kept confidential and the replacement birth record not to include any reference to Applicant's former name former sex.

To have the name of his/her spouse changed to

To have the name(s) of his/her child (ren) changed to


7. The applicant (and included spouse or child (ren))

Has not been convicted of a felony in any state.
Has been convicted of a felony as follows:

AND Proper notice has been given to the prosecuting authority and Minnesota Attorney General
AND No objection has been filed.

8. Legal description of lands in the State of Minnesota upon which the following have a claim, interest, or lien: (Provide the legal description and attach additional pages if necessary.)

Applicant

Spouse

Child (ren)

9. Other:

The application is granted and IT IS ORDERED that:

The legal name of the Applicant shall be

The legal name of the spouse shall be

The legal names of the minor child (ren) shall be

The Minnesota Department of Health shall change the name on the birth record from to

The Minnesota Department of Health shall change the sex on the birth record from to

The Minnesota Department of Health shall issue and register a replacement birth record for the Applicant. The prior birth record shall be confidential pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13.02, subdivision 3, and shall not be disclosed except pursuant to court order.

The replacement birth record shall not include any reference to the Applicant's
former name
former sex

and

shall reflect the Applicant's current legal name of

shall reflect the sex designation of .

All persons having a criminal history who have been granted a name change by this court have a duty to report that name change to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension within ten (10) days of this order.

Other

Dated:
Judge of District Court

DUTY TO REPORT NAME CHANGE

Minn. Stat. § 259.11B

If you have a criminal history and have changed your name, you have a duty to report your name change to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension located at 1430 East Maryland Avenue, St Paul, MN 55106, (651)793-2400, within ten (10) days of this order. Failure to do so is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one (1) year in prison and/or a fine of $3000.

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What the Name Change Form Minnesota Judicial Branch is and when it applies

The Name Change Form Minnesota Judicial Branch is the court petition used to request an official change of name in Minnesota district court. It records the current legal name, the new requested name, reasons for the change and supporting facts, and creates a court record that enables updates to identity documents and public records following a judge's decree. The form may be used by adults seeking a personal name change, by parents or guardians on behalf of minors, and as part of administrative processes such as gender marker changes or restoring a previous name after divorce.

Why completing the Name Change Form Minnesota Judicial Branch matters

A properly completed petition creates an official court order that establishes legal identity, allows updates to government IDs and records, and reduces future administrative friction for employment, travel and benefits enrollment.

Why completing the Name Change Form Minnesota Judicial Branch matters

Who typically files this form

Different filing rules and supporting evidence may apply depending on the filer type and the county where the petition is filed.

  • Individuals seeking a legal name change for personal, marital, gender, or other lawful reasons.
  • Parents or guardians filing for a minor child to change the child's legal name.
  • Attorney representatives filing petitions and supporting declarations for clients.

Step-by-step: completing and filing the Minnesota name change petition

Follow these sequential actions to prepare a complete filing that the court can accept.

  • 01
    Gather documents: Collect ID, birth certificate, and supporting evidence.
  • 02
    Complete petition: Fill all required fields clearly and sign as instructed.
  • 03
    File with court: Submit to the county district court clerk and pay the fee.
  • 04
    Attend hearing: If scheduled, appear or provide required proof; receive decree.

Where the form goes and what the court does next

After submission the clerk reviews the petition, the court may schedule a hearing, and a decree is issued if the judge grants the request.

  • Clerk intake: Clerk verifies completeness and accepts the filing.
  • Service: Required notice or service may be arranged to interested parties.
  • Hearing: Judge reviews facts and any objections at the scheduled hearing.
  • Decree: If approved, the judge signs an order changing the legal name.

How to set up an online completion and e-submission workflow

Configure an electronic workflow that matches court requirements and preserves an audit trail for each filing.

Field Configuration
Upload document Accept PDF or DOCX files for form upload.
Signature placement Add signature and date fields where required.
Authentication Choose email, SMS code, or stronger ID verification.
Notifications Enable email alerts for filing status and receipts.

Technical considerations for e-signing and e-submission

Preserve a tamper-evident record, retain signed copies, and verify the receiving court's e-filing rules before relying on electronic submission.

  • File formats: PDF and Word DOCX are commonly accepted by courts.
  • Authentication: Use email, SMS, or knowledge‑based verification as required.
  • Integrations: Connectors to Salesforce, Google Workspace and NetSuite support document workflows.

Typical procedural timeframes to expect

Processing times vary by county and docket; use these general expectations when planning.

Filing date:

File the petition anytime; no universal statutory deadline.

Clerk review:

Initial acceptance often occurs within days to two weeks.

Service of notice:

Service windows vary; comply with local rule timeframes.

Hearing:

Scheduling depends on court calendar; expect weeks to months.

Decree entry:

Decree is filed after hearing or clerk's approval.

Key milestones from petition to decree

A typical sequence includes intake, service, hearing and final decree; times vary by jurisdiction and court workload.

01

Prepare Petition

Assemble forms and supporting documents for filing.

02

File with Clerk

Submit documents and pay required fees.

03

Serve Interested Parties

Provide notice to required individuals per local rule.

04

Receive Decree

Court enters the order and issues certified copies.

Common mistakes that delay a Minnesota name change filing

  • Submitting incomplete petitions without required signatures, notarizations, or fee payment leads to immediate rejection or delay.
  • Using inconsistent name formats between IDs and petition causes verification problems and may require amended filings.
  • Failing to serve required interested parties or to follow county service rules can void proceedings or postpone hearings.
  • Not attaching certified supporting documents such as birth certificates or court orders increases the chance of additional requests.

Legal risks and consequences of errors or false statements

Perjury Allegation: False statements may trigger perjury charges.
Filing Rejection: Incomplete forms lead to rejection or dismissal.
Identity Mismatch: Mismatched documents prevent ID updates.
Service Failure: Improper service can delay or invalidate proceedings.
Privacy Risk: Unredacted sensitive data risks exposure.
Additional Costs: Correcting errors increases fees and time.

Essential personal details required on the petition

Full legal name: Exact current name
Proposed name: Requested new legal name
Date of birth: MM/DD/YYYY format
Address: Street, city, state, ZIP
Supporting ID: Birth certificate or government ID
Signature: Signed and dated by petitioner

Key components that appear on a professional Minnesota name change petition

A complete petition combines factual statements, jurisdictional data, attachments and a proposed court order to ensure the judge and clerk have the information needed to act.

Caption and jurisdiction

Court caption identifies the county and district court, lists the petitioner and case number if assigned, and establishes subject matter jurisdiction for the name change request.

Petitioner identification

Fields collect the petitioner's current legal name, address, date of birth and any identifying numbers necessary for court records and subsequent identity verification.

Statement of grounds

A clear, concise narrative explains why the petitioner requests the name change and confirms that the change is not sought for fraudulent or criminal evasion.

Attachments and proof

Include certified birth certificates, prior name records, divorce decrees or other documents the court requires to substantiate identity and legal basis for the petition.

Notice and service instructions

Indicate how required notice will be made to interested parties and attach proof of service forms or publication affidavits if the local rule requires them.

Proposed decree

A draft order for the judge to sign that states the new legal name, effective date, and instructions for the clerk to issue certified copies upon entry.

Practical tips for accurate, efficient completion

Follow these proven practices to minimize delays and ensure a usable court record.

Use certified copies
Attach certified copies of birth certificates or prior decrees where required; uncertified photocopies are often unacceptable and will delay processing.
Match government IDs
Ensure the name and date formats match government IDs to avoid identity verification issues when updating passports, Social Security, and driver licenses.
Confirm county rules
Check local court clerk instructions for required forms, publication or service methods, fee waivers, and any county-specific timelines before filing.
Retain certified copies
Obtain and store certified copies of the final decree; these are needed for all subsequent updates to public and private records.

Comparing eSignature vendors for completing and signing name change paperwork

Basic vendor pricing and feature overview to help choose a compliant eSignature solution for document completion, notarization and secure storage.

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Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
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Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about the Name Change Form Minnesota Judicial Branch

Answers to common procedural and technical questions when preparing or submitting a Minnesota name change petition.


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