INSTRUCTIONS: NAME CHANGE PACKET

Along with the Petition, the following forms are also required:

·  Request for Hearing

·  Notice of Change of Name

·  Order for Change of Name

In order to use these forms, you need to be a resident of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba or Los Alamos County and be at least 14 years of age. 

“Name Change Packet Step 1”

After you complete the Petition, file the form with the District Court Clerk.  The Petition needs notarized and the filing fee is $132.00.  After you file the form, the Clerk will notify the judge of the case. 

“Name Change Packet Step 2”

After filing the Petition, go to the judge’s office and ask for a Hearing around 30 days in the future. 

“Name Change Packet Step 3”

Notice is also required in a local newspaper.  Travel to a local newspaper in your county and ask for publication of the Notice once a week for at least two consecutive works.  You will have to pay for the publication costs in the newspaper.  These fees can be over $100.00. 

“Name Change Packet Step 4”

After the Notice has been published for two consecutive weeks, the newspaper will send the petitioner a Proof of Publication.  The petitioner needs to file this form with the Court Clerk before the hearing.  Make sure to bring a copy of the Proof of Publication to the Hearing as well. 

“Name Change Packet Step 5”

Attend the hearing and tell the judge why you want to change your name.  If there are no objections to the name change the judge will sign the Order. 

“Name Change Packet Step 7”

Bring the signed Order back to the Court Clerk and file the original form.  Make sure you ask for certified copies of the Order.  The certified copies will cost $1.50 per page, and you should obtain several copies because you will need to change multiple records. 

“Name Change Packet Step 8”

Make sure you record the Order with the County Clerk.  The recording fee is $7.00 for the first page and every additional page will cost $2.00. 

“Name Change Packet Step 9”

If you can’t pay the filing fees, you can ask the judge to waive or reduce the fees.  You’ll be informed of the form you need if the judge approves a reduction in fees. 

INSTRUCTIONS: PETITION FOR NAME CHANGE (Tennessee)

The state of Tennessee does not have a statewide Petition for Name Change.  Instead, each County Court has its own forms.  These instructions address Davidson County but apply—for the most part—to every county in the state. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 1”

In the heading of the Petition, provide the full legal name of the petitioner in black ink.  Do not fill in the docket number.  The clerk will fill in this part. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 2”

Provide the petitioner’s full legal name on the first line in part 1.  Write “Davidson” on the second line and the petitioner’s current address on the third line.  Write where the petitioner has citizenship on the fourth line. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 3”

In part 3, provide the petitioner’s date of birth on the first line.  Provide the city of birth on the second line and the county of birth on the third line.  Provide the petitioner’s name at the time of birth on the fourth line, and the state where the birth certificate was issued. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 4”

If the petitioner has other aliases they’ve gone by since birth, list these names in part 3 in chronological order. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 5”

In part 4, provide the petitioner’s requested name change.  Provide the reasons for this change in part 5. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 6”

Check the appropriate box if you have or have not been convicted of a felony in part 7.  If the petitioner has been convicted of a felony, state the charges on the line provided. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 7”

The petitioner must sign the form in front of Notary Public. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 8”

In addition to the Petition, the petitioner also needs to submit an Affidavit of Name Change and Order Allowing Name Change to their Chancery Court.  Attach a certified copy of your birth certificate to the form. 

“Petition for Name Change (Tennessee) Step 9”

File all required forms with the clerk.  There will be filing fees, and these fees range from county to county.  The change of name procedure is complete when the judge signs the Order.  Ask the clerk for certified copies to change important documents like your birth certificate and social security card.