Name Change Article


Name Change in Arizona

If, for any good reason, you wish to change your name or the name of a minor who you are responsible for, the steps can be quite simple. Name change should not be used for reasons like: avoiding responsibilities and obligations, avoiding creditors or the other parent/guardian of a child. This article does not focus on name change as part of a marriage or a divorce, as those cases can be different. The article first summarizes the steps for a name change with the Arizona courts and then some general information about following up to change your birth certificate, social security card, and driver license.

Steps with the Arizona Courts
  1. Get the name change forms.
    You can go online at https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Forms/Name-Change or in person at a court location closest to where you live. If you don't know where your court is you can use the court locator to find your local court https://www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Courts/AZ-Courts-Locator.

    It is best to double check with your court’s staff if the forms are still relevant and up to date. For Maricopa County, this is the current website https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/civil-court-forms/. For Pima County, their law library can provide you with this information https://www.sc.pima.gov/default.aspx?tabid=60.

  2. Fill out the forms, which may ask for personal information like your contact information, birth, children, marital history, criminal history, etc.

  3. File the completed forms with your court and pay a filing fee.

  4. Inform any interested parties mentioned in the forms. For example, another parent of a minor child.

  5. Attend a hearing for the judicial officer to sign the court order with the name change and pay a fee for one or more certified copies of the order.

Following Up with Other Places
  1. To change your birth certificate, follow up with your relevant birth records office.
    For those born in Maricopa County, this is the current website https://azdhs.gov/licensing/vital-records/index.php#corrections-amendments-registrants-name. For those born in Pima County and 1996 or before that, also follow up with the Phoenix office; for those born in Pima County and 1997 to now, follow up with the Tucson office http://www.agave.cosc.pima.gov/home.asp?include=pages/name_changes.htm.

  2. To change your social security card, this is the current website with details https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01981.

  3. To change your driver license, this is the current website with details https://azdot.gov/motor-vehicles/driver-services/driver-license-information/change-your-address-or-name. Since the Arizona Department of Transportation uses the Social Security computer system to check for your name change, you need to change your name with Social Security first and wait at least 2 days for the Social Security system to be updated. Only then can you change your driver license.

Contributing Attorney: Ke Huang-Isherwood is an attorney who is an independent legal and communication researcher.

Comments:

QUESTIONS

  • I am trying to do a formal name change for my son. His biological father's rights were terminated july 2012. Do I still have to notify him of the name change?
  • Hi, I legally changed my last name this year (2011) and wanted to know if my wife has to file and pay for her last name to be changed?
  • How do you get the cost of a name change fee waived. I am on disability. Are there certain papers I need to show proof of income and if so which ones. How is a waive determined at the time of filing and who decides?
  • when i married my second husban i still had my fiert husban´s last name what can i do to change it fron the marriage certificate since we wantto make ar double citizenship for ar daughter.and in the mexican consulate they told us that, it does not match my last name of my birth certificate.thank you.
  • My soon to be wife and I would like to create a new last name when we get married, how do I fill out the marriage license form to reflect that?
  • I left an abusive marriage in another state 16 years ago. My husband has died. This was a second marriage so I want to go back to the name prior to this marriage since I have adult children with that name and plan to be buried with the first husband. What will I need to proceed with this name change.
  • Im 13 and want my daddys last name. My dna giver or "real dad" means nothing to me. My daddy has been there for me since i was 2. He has different dna but who cares. my mom said i can borrow money and she will help me change my last name to be like her and my daddy. but how? my mom says dna dad has to say its okay to change my last name. but he wont. i even asked him. and i only see him one every few years. cant i tell judge i want my daddy's last name even if not same dna? pleaze help.
  • If i want to change my childs last name and there is no father on the birth certificate, am I the only one who has to sign?
  • My dad hasn't been apart of my life for 3 years and lives out of state.My mom has sole custody of me and I want to change my last name to my mom's maiden name. Can my sister and I have our mom change our name and does my dad need to approve it since mom has sole custody?
  • my 6 year old son lives with his grandparents and we want to get his last name changed can the grandparents change it without my the other parents permission and my son says grandpa is more of a dad to him then his birth dad

STORIES

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FIND LEGAL HELP

  • Please select your county of residence below.

    County:
     

OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

  • State Bar of Arizona
    www.azbar.org
  • Maricopa County Bar
    www.maricopabar.org
    Referral number 602-257-4434
  • Pima County Bar
    www.pimacountybar.org
    Referral number 520-623-4625
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    800-799-7233
  • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
    866-553-0893
  • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
    Link

ORGANIZATIONS

RELATED ARTICLES

How To Change Your Name

Where to Find an Attorney for Specific Legal Advice

LINKS

Birth Certificates - Arizona Office of Vital Records

Maricopa County Judicial Branch

Maricopa County Judicial Branch Self-Service Center Online

Arizona Supreme Court Programs Unit

Arizona 2-1-1

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