Does AttachKit file or submit my name change petition to the court?

No. AttachKit is a preparation worksheet that runs in your browser. You still download or print your details, complete your local court's official petition, and file it yourself with the court clerk. AttachKit never submits anything to a court or agency.

Where do I file an adult name change petition?

You file with the trial court in the county or parish where you live — commonly the superior, circuit, district, or probate court, depending on your state. The exact court, form, and filing fee vary by jurisdiction, so check your local court's self-help resources (USAGov links to them) before you file.

Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper?

In many states, yes. Numerous courts require you to publish a notice of your petition in a local newspaper and wait a set period (often around 30 days) before the hearing, so creditors and others can object. Some states waive publication for safety reasons. Confirm your county's rule with the court clerk.

What's the difference between this and changing my name through marriage or divorce?

A marriage certificate or a divorce decree that restores a former name usually lets you update IDs without a separate court case. A court name change petition is for adopting a new name outside of those events. After a judge signs the order, use the certified copy to update your Social Security record, driver's license, and passport.

Legal · Adult Name Change Petition

Adult name change petition — free prep worksheet

An adult name change petition (often titled "Petition for Change of Name") is the court paperwork an adult files to legally adopt a new name. You file it with the trial court in the county or parish where you live — depending on your state that may be the superior, circuit, district, or probate court — and a judge grants the change by signed order. Because the required form, fee, publication rule, and whether a hearing is held all vary by state and county, there is no single national blank to fill. AttachKit does not draft your petition or give you a court-ready document: it is a worksheet that helps you gather and lay out the common details (your current legal name, requested new name, address, and reason for the change) on your device, so you can copy them onto your court's official form. AttachKit runs entirely in your browser — your worksheet never leaves your device and nothing is uploaded — and it does not file or submit anything to any court. This is general information, not legal advice; always follow your local court's rules and forms.

Your PDF never leaves your browser — open DevTools → Network and watch: the file is never uploaded.

Who needs it: Anyone 18 or older who wants to legally change their first, middle, or last name by court order — for example after transition, to drop a former partner's surname, to correct a long-used name, or for personal reasons. If your new name comes automatically from a marriage certificate or a divorce decree, you usually do not need a separate court petition. Changing a minor's name uses a different petition and additional consent rules.

Need a blank Adult Name Change Petition? Download from the source, then drop it in below.

Save your details once — supported forms auto-fill

Save your name, address, and other common fields once. Then open the blank Adult Name Change Petition in the form filler below — AttachKit maps what it can from your saved profile, right in your browser with nothing uploaded.

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Why fill it here

Organize every detail your local court's petition asks for — current legal name, requested new name, county of residence, and your good-faith reason — in one on-device worksheet you can print or copy over.
Everything stays in your browser: your worksheet and any PDF are processed on your device, nothing is uploaded, so sensitive identity details are not sent to a server.
Links you straight to USAGov's official name-change guidance so you file on the correct court form for your state and county instead of a generic template.
Free to fill unlimited forms (10 signed PDFs/mo on the free tier).

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Adult Name Change Petition questions, answered

General information, not legal or tax advice

This page is general information about a commonly-used document. State and local law varies — for advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. AttachKit fills the PDF; you're responsible for whether the contents are right for your case.

Does AttachKit file or submit my name change petition to the court?: No. AttachKit is a preparation worksheet that runs in your browser. You still download or print your details, complete your local court's official petition, and file it yourself with the court clerk. AttachKit never submits anything to a court or agency.
Where do I file an adult name change petition?: You file with the trial court in the county or parish where you live — commonly the superior, circuit, district, or probate court, depending on your state. The exact court, form, and filing fee vary by jurisdiction, so check your local court's self-help resources (USAGov links to them) before you file.
Do I have to publish my name change in a newspaper?: In many states, yes. Numerous courts require you to publish a notice of your petition in a local newspaper and wait a set period (often around 30 days) before the hearing, so creditors and others can object. Some states waive publication for safety reasons. Confirm your county's rule with the court clerk.
What's the difference between this and changing my name through marriage or divorce?: A marriage certificate or a divorce decree that restores a former name usually lets you update IDs without a separate court case. A court name change petition is for adopting a new name outside of those events. After a judge signs the order, use the certified copy to update your Social Security record, driver's license, and passport.

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AttachKit is a private, independent tool for filling and signing PDFs on your own device. It is not a government agency, law firm, or filing service, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS, USCIS, the U.S. Department of State, or any government body. Forms are provided for convenience — always download the current version and instructions from the official .gov website, and your completed document never leaves your browser.