We handle name changes regularly and can guide you through each step.
Changing your name in Missouri is a court process, but it’s manageable. Most adult name changes follow the same basic path: you file a verified petition with the circuit court in the county where you live, a judge reviews it, and after the change is granted, you publish a notice in a local newspaper. People often get stuck on the details, especially the cost and the county-specific forms.
Who Can Request a Name Change in Missouri
Missouri law (Section 527.270, RSMo) allows a person to petition the circuit court in the county where they live. The statute has no minimum residency period. You simply file where you reside, whether that is the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, or elsewhere in the metro.
The judge’s job is to confirm that the requested change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person. In practice, that means the court wants to see that you are not changing your name to escape debts, avoid legal obligations, or mislead anyone. Common reasons, such as returning to a former name, aligning your legal name with the name you actually use, cultural or family reasons, or personal identity, are generally well received when presented clearly.
How Much a Missouri Name Change Costs
There are usually three costs to plan for:
- Court filing fee. This varies by county. Filing fees often fall roughly in the $100 to $200 range, but the exact amount is set by each circuit court, so confirm with your circuit clerk before filing. If paying the fee would be a hardship, Missouri courts offer a fee waiver application you can file with your petition.
- Newspaper publication. After the court grants the change, Missouri law requires you to publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in your county. Publication costs vary by newspaper.
- Certified copies. You will want several certified copies of the judgment for updating your Social Security record, driver’s license, passport, and other accounts. Each copy carries a small per-copy charge from the clerk.
If you hire an attorney, legal fees are separate. Many people find the cost worthwhile because a properly drafted petition and correctly handled publication can help the case move through the court without avoidable delays or refiling.
The Forms You Will Need
Missouri does not use one standardized statewide name change form. Most circuit courts provide their own petition template through the circuit clerk’s office, and some counties post the forms online. In general, your paperwork will include:
- Petition for Change of Name. This states your current full legal name, the exact new name you are requesting, and a concise statement of your reason for the change. Missouri requires the petition to be verified by affidavit, which means you sign it under oath before a notary.
- Filing information sheet. Courts collect identifying information, including your date of birth and Social Security number, to open the case. Courts keep sensitive identifiers confidential and do not publish them in public case records.
- Fee waiver application, if you are requesting one.
- Proposed judgment, in counties that ask petitioners to submit one for the judge’s signature.
Because the exact packet differs from county to county, it can help to check with the clerk or have an attorney prepare the filing before you make the trip to the courthouse.
The Court Steps, From Filing to Final Order
- Step 1: Prepare and sign the verified petition. Draft the petition with your current name, the requested name, and your reason, then sign it before a notary.
- Step 2: File with the circuit court in your county. Bring the petition, your photo ID, and the filing fee or fee waiver request to the circuit clerk in the county where you live.
- Step 3: Attend the hearing, if one is set. Many Missouri courts schedule a short hearing. The judge may ask why you want the change and confirm that no one would be harmed by it. Honest, straightforward answers are all that is needed.
- Step 4: Receive the judgment. If the judge is satisfied, the court enters an order changing your name and records it.
- Step 5: Publish notice in a newspaper. After the judgment, you must publish notice of the name change at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in your county.
- Step 6: File proof of publication. The newspaper provides an affidavit of publication, which you must file with the clerk within 10 days after the date of the last publication. Once that is done, your name change is complete and enforceable.
Timelines vary by county and court schedule. Many cases wrap up within a few months of filing.
After the Court Order: Updating Your Records
Once your name change is final, update your records in this order:
- Social Security Administration. Bring a certified copy of the judgment to update your Social Security record first, since other agencies check against it.
- Missouri driver’s license or state ID. Visit a Missouri Department of Revenue license office with your certified copy and updated Social Security information.
- Passport, voter registration, and financial accounts. Banks, employers, insurers, and the passport agency will each want to see the certified order.
- Missouri birth certificate, if you were born here. With a certified court order, the Missouri Bureau of Vital Statistics can amend your birth certificate to show the new name.
Name Change Lawyers in St. Louis, Missouri
Changing your name is a multi-step process involving paperwork and court procedures. Let our professional name-change attorneys help with your petition to avoid unforeseen hurdles.
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