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Petition for Change of Name

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Petition for Change of Name (For Adult Individual)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF , MISSOURI

In re:

Case No.

(Will be assigned when case is filed)

Division No.

(Will be assigned when case is filed)

Petition for Change of Name (For Adult Individual)

Your Information (You are the “Petitioner” in this case)

1. My current full legal name is:

2. I want to change my name to:

3. Check one of the two boxes.

This is the first petition I have filed in this case. (Original Petition)

This is the second petition I have filed in this case.

4. My mailing address is:

5. My parent’s full legal name is:

6. My other parent’s (father or mother) full legal name is:

7. My husband’s or wife’s full legal name is:

8. My birth date is:

9. My place of birth is:

10. The change of my name would not be detrimental to any other person.

11. I want to change my name because:

12. I reside in the United States another country, which is:

the United States another country

13. I reside in the State of .

14. I reside in the County of .

15. Check one of the two boxes.

My name has never been changed.

My name has previously been changed as follows:

16. Check all boxes that apply.

I am the victim of a crime based upon domestic violence as defined in §455.010, RSMo.

I am the victim of child abuse as defined in §210.110, RSMo.

I am the victim of abuse by a family or household member as defined in §455.010, RSMo.

None of the above.

17. Check one of the two boxes.

There are no unsatisfied money judgments against me.

There are unsatisfied money judgments against me in the following cases:

18. Check one of the two boxes.

There are no cases requesting money pending against me.

The following cases in which money is requested are pending against me:

Children’s Information

19. I have child(ren) who is/are listed below.

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

Request for Relief

THEREFORE, I ask the court to change my name from the name stated in Paragraph 1 above to the name stated in Paragraph 2 above.

Sign Below in the Presence of a Notary Public

Petitioner, of lawful age, being duly sworn on his or her oath, states that he or she is the petitioner named above and that the facts stated in this Petition for Change of Name (For Adult Individual) are true according to his or her best knowledge, information and belief.

(Sign above in the presence of a Notary Public)

(Print your name above)

The following information must be completed by a notary public.

STATE OF )

) SS

COUNTY OF )

On this day of , 20 , before me personally appeared, , to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that he/she executed the same as his/her free act and deed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal in the County and State aforesaid, the day and year first above written.

Notary Public

County, State of Missouri

My commission expires:

Attorney Information

This information may be completed by your attorney. Do not enter any information here if you are filing this case without the assistance of an attorney.

I have assisted Petitioner in the preparation of these pleadings, but I am not entering my appearance on behalf of Petitioner.

Judgment for Change of Name of Adult Individual

1. Parties Appearing (Check all that apply)

Petitioner appears in person.

Petitioner appears by Attorney.

2. The court finds that the change of name would be proper and would not be detrimental to the interests of any other person.

3. The name of Petitioner is changed as follows:

Birth Date

4. Change of Birth Records (Check one of the two boxes)

It is further ordered that the Division of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Statistics for the State of Missouri alter the birth certificate of Petitioner to reflect this judgment. This judgment shall be mailed by the Petitioner to the Division of Health and Senior Services.

It is further ordered that the State of alter the birth certificate of Petitioner to reflect this judgment. This judgment shall be mailed by the Petitioner to the appropriate state of birth of Petitioner.

5. Notice (Check one of the two boxes)

Notice of the change of name shall be published at least once each week for three consecutive weeks in the following newspaper of general circulation:

No notice of change of name is to be published because the petitioner is the victim of a crime based upon domestic violence as defined in §455.010, RSMo; or the victim of child abuse as defined in §210.110, RSMo; or the victim of abuse by a family or household member as defined in §455.010, RSMo.

6. Court Costs (Check one of the two boxes)

Court costs are waived.

Court costs are to be paid from the court cost deposit(s) previously posted.

7. Waiver of Right to Rehearing (If case is heard by a Commissioner pursuant to §487.010, RSMo, et seq.)

We, the undersigned parties, do hereby acknowledge receipt of the findings and recommendations of the commissioner and waive the right to file a motion for rehearing in this case.

Signature of Petitioner’s Attorney

Signature of Petitioner

(If heard by a Family Court Judge)

(Judge)

(Date)

(If heard by a Family Court Commissioner)

Findings and Recommendations of Commissioner:

All orders and these findings and recommendations of the Commissioner are confirmed and adopted as the judgment of the court.

A certified copy of this judgment is to be mailed to the following person(s): (Check all applicable boxes)

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What a Petition for Change of Name Is and when it applies

A Petition for Change of Name is a court filing that asks a state or county court to replace a person's current legal name with a new name. Typical uses include marriage-related changes, reverting to a former name, correcting errors, or seeking a new name for personal reasons. The petitioner provides identifying details, the requested new name, reasons for the change, and any required background disclosures so the court can consider public-interest factors, notice requirements, and potential objections before issuing a name-change order.

Why completing a clear petition matters

A properly prepared petition reduces delays, avoids hearing continuance, and helps the court evaluate eligibility and public-safety concerns. Clear answers, accurate supporting documents, and correct county filing practices make it easier for clerks and judges to process the request.

Why completing a clear petition matters

Who typically files this petition

Individuals and legal guardians commonly file for name changes; attorneys and court clerks also prepare or process petitions.

  • Adults seeking a legal name change for personal or professional reasons.
  • Parents or guardians requesting a name change for a minor child.
  • Attorneys preparing petitions for clients with complex legal histories.

Parties should confirm local filing rules and whether the court requires publication, background disclosures, or additional proof before scheduling a hearing.

Core sections included in a professional petition

A complete petition organizes identity data, the requested new name, statutory statements, and a proposed order that the judge can sign.

Caption

Court name, case number area, and party names organized per local rules so clerks can route the filing correctly and assign a docket number.

Petitioner details

Full legal name, date of birth, current address, and identifying information used to verify identity and determine venue and jurisdiction for the court.

Requested name

Exact new full name in the format you want it recorded, including middle names and capitalization, to avoid later ambiguity in records.

Reason statement

A concise factual statement explaining the requested change and confirming there are no intent to defraud, which courts use to assess public-safety implications.

Background disclosures

Any required criminal history, prior name changes, or pending judgments disclosed per statute so the court can evaluate eligibility for a change.

Proposed order

A ready-to-sign order granting the change of name, correctly captioned and formatted for the judge to sign after the hearing or off-calendar review.

Required information commonly requested

Petitioner Name: Full current legal name
Requested Name: Exact new full name
Date of Birth: MM/DD/YYYY format
Address: Street, city, state, ZIP
Reason: Brief factual explanation
Background: Criminal history disclosed

Step-by-step: preparing and filing your petition

Follow these core steps in order; local variations may change sequencing or add publication and service requirements.

  • 01
    Gather records: Assemble ID, birth certificate, and supporting documents.
  • 02
    Complete petition: Fill each field accurately and attach exhibits.
  • 03
    File with court: Submit petition and pay the filing fee at the clerk's office.
  • 04
    Attend hearing: Appear at the scheduled hearing or await an order if the court provides one.

Where petitions are filed and how they move through the court

Name-change filings are generally handled by the county or circuit court in the petitioner’s county of residence; local clerk procedures determine next steps.

  • Clerk intake: Clerk assigns case number and schedules hearing.
  • Notice publication: Court may require public notice or waived by statute.
  • Hearing: Judge reviews petition and may ask questions under oath.
  • Order issued: Judge signs order; clerk files final decree.

Configuring an online workflow for digital filing and signatures

Design a repeatable workflow that captures required fields, attachments, and signer authentication before filing with the clerk or serving interested parties.

Form template fields Map each petition field to a required input
Signer authentication Choose email or SMS code verification
Attachment handling Require uploaded ID and birth certificate scans
Audit trail Enable timestamps and IP logging
Export format Produce court-ready PDF/A documents

Digital signing and eSubmission considerations

Verify that e-signature methods meet legal tests for intent and retention before relying on digital execution for court filings.

  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger methods
  • Audit Trail: Timestamps and signer metadata
  • Document Format: Court-ready PDF preferred

Confirm the receiving court accepts electronic submissions and whether a printed, notarized, or original-signed document is required for filing or service.

Typical timelines and deadlines to expect

Timelines vary by state and county; use these general checkpoints to plan filings and notice periods.

Filing date:

Date you submit the petition to the clerk

Publication window:

Often 4–6 weeks when required by statute

Hearing notice:

Court schedules hearing 2–12 weeks after filing

Objection period:

Third parties may have time to object before order

Final decree:

Judge signs order after hearing or review

Key milestones from filing to final order

This numbered milestone sequence shows typical stages; exact timing depends on local rules and court schedules.

01

1. File Petition

Clerk accepts documents and assigns case number.

02

2. Notice/Publication

Court may require notice to publish in a local paper.

03

3. Hearing

Judge holds hearing or reviews papers and considers objections.

04

4. Final Order

Court signs decree and clerk enters the order on the docket.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the petition

  • Incomplete identity information, such as using a nickname instead of the legal name, can cause delays or rejection.
  • Failing to disclose required background details, including prior convictions or pending cases, may result in denial or sanctions.
  • Missing or illegible supporting documents like birth certificates or photo ID often force re-filing or an additional court appearance.
  • Not confirming local publication, service, or notarization rules can lead to missed notice periods and a delayed final order.

Consequences of errors or omissions

Filing Rejection: Clerk returns or rejects petition
Hearing Delay: Case continued to another date
Denial: Judge refuses to grant name change
Sanctions: Court fines or contempt possible
Identity Issues: Records mismatch post-order
Civil Liability: Potential claims if fraudulent intent found

eSignature vendor comparison for petition workflows

Basic pricing and feature availability for common eSignature providers; signNow is listed first per platform guidance and columns show typical plan starting prices and key capabilities.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/yr Varies Varies Varies

Frequently asked questions and quick answers

Answers to common questions about validity, notarization, e-signatures, and court practice for name-change petitions.


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