Florida Name Change

Petition For Change Of Name

Adult

Who should file this form?

This Florida name change form should be used when an adult wants the court to change his or her name.

This form is not to be used in connection with a divorce action. If you want a change of name because of a dissolution of marriage that is not yet final, the change of name should be done as part of that case.

This form should be typed or printed in black ink.

You must obtain a copy of your fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency and attach it to the petition. There may be a charge for the fingerprinting which you will have to pay.

After completing this form, you should sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk. You should file the original with Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where you live and keep a copy for your records.

OK, now what do I do?

Special Notes

The heading of the form calls for the name of the petitioner. Your current name should go there, as you are the one who is asking the court for something. The judicial circuit, case number, and division may be obtained from the clerk of court’s office when you file the petition. It may be helpful to compile a list of all of the people and/or places that will need a copy of your final judgment. This list may include the driver’s license office, social security office, banks, schools, etc. A list will help you know how many copies of your order you should get from the clerk of court after your hearing.

You may be required to attend the final hearing and bring a final judgment form with you. Once again, check with the clerk's office if you need to bring a Final Judgment of Change of Name (Adult) form to the final hearing.

If so, you should type or print the heading, including the circuit, county, case number, division, and the parties’ names, and leave the rest blank for the judge to complete at your Florida name change hearing or trial.

If the judge grants your petition, he or she will sign this order. This officially changes your name. The clerk can provide you with certified copies of the signed order. There will be charges for the certified copies, and the clerk can tell you how much those charges are.

Minor Child

Who should file this form?

This form is not to be used in connection with an adoption or paternity action. If you want a change of name for your child(ren) because of an adoption or paternity action that is not yet final, the change of name should be done as part of that case.

This form should be typed or printed in black ink.

The primary Florida name change petition should only be completed for one child. If you wish to change the names of more than one child, you should complete and file a Supplemental Form for Petition for Change of Name (Minor Child) for each child. The supplemental form is an attachment to the petition. Be sure that the bottom of each page of each supplemental form is initialed by the petitioner(s).

You must obtain a copy of the children’s fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency and attach it to the petition. There may be a charge for the fingerprinting which you will have to pay.

After completing the Florida name change form, you should sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk. You should file the original with Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where you live and keep a copy for your records.

OK, now what do I do?

• If both parents agree to the change of name and live in the county where the change of name is sought, you may both file as petitioners.
• If only one parent is a resident of the county where the Florida name change is sought or only one parent asks for the children’s name to be changed, the other parent must be notified and his or her consent obtained, if possible. A Consent for Change of Name (Minor Child(ren)) form should be filed.
• If the other parent does not consent to the change of name, you may still have a hearing on the petition if you have properly notified the other parent using personal service about your Florida name change petition and the hearing.

If you know where he or she lives, you must use personal service.

If you absolutely do not know where he or she lives, you may use constructive service.

The law regarding constructive service is very complex and you may wish to consult an attorney regarding that issue.

For more information about constructive service, limitations, see our page on diligent searches and constructive service.

You may be required to attend the final hearing and bring a final judgment form with you.

Once again, check with the clerk's office if you need to bring a Final Judgment of Change of Name (Minor Child(ren)) form to the final hearing.

Special Notes

The heading of the form calls for the name(s) of the petitioner(s). This is the parent(s) who is (are) requesting the change of their child(ren)’s name(s). The judicial circuit, case number, and division may be obtained from the clerk of court’s office when you file the petition. It may be helpful to compile a list of all of the people and places that will need a copy of the final judgment. This list may include the driver’s license office, social security office, banks, schools, etc. A list will help you know how many copies of your order you should get from the clerk of court after your hearing.

If you attend the hearing, you should take the final judgment with you. It should be typed or printed in black ink.

You should complete the top part of the form, including the circuit, county, case number, division, and the name(s) of the petitioner(s) and leave the rest blank for the judge to complete.

If the judge grants your petition, he or she will sign this order. This officially changes your child(ren)’s name(s). The clerk can provide you with certified copies of the signed order. There will be charges for the certified copies, and the clerk can tell you how much those charges are.

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