Name Change
In Missouri, a person may change their name and the names of other members of their family by filing a joint petition in the circuit court with appropriate forms.
The process for obtaining a name change for an adult, and other members of the family, in the State of Missouri, begins with the filing of a Joint Petition with the Circuit Court in the jurisdiction in which Petitioners reside. The Petition informs the Court of the Petitioner’s name, the name the Petitioner wishes to adopt, the names of the other members of the family and the names they wish to adopt, and the reasons for the requested change of name.
The court must find that the requested name change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of anyone else. A person is not allowed to change their name in order to avoid judgments or legal actions against him or her or to avoid debts and obligations. A person cannot change their name to defraud any person.
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Requirements for Name Change Order
For an order of name change to be granted, the court must find that the desired change is proper and not detrimental to the interests of any other person. A change of name upon marriage, dissolution, or divorce meets these requirements.
The General Public is given notice by publication. Also, any parent of a minor child who is not joining in the petition would be entitled to service of notice of the petition and hearing by certified or registered mail.
Any reasonable objections made to the court may influence the court’s findings as to whether the change of name is consistent with the public interest. Any parent of a minor child who is not joining in the petition would be entitled to service of notice of the petition and hearing by certified or registered mail.
If a parent or parents do not consent to the requested name change, a copy of the petition together with a notice stating the date of the hearing shall be served on each known parent not consenting not less than thirty days before the date of the hearing. The service shall be by registered or certified mail addressed to the last known address of the non-consenting parent. Service shall be proved by the certificate of the clerk that he has mailed a copy of the petition and notice by registered or certified mail.
The requested name change will be granted if the court is satisfied with the basis of the request and that it is not detrimental to the interests of anyone else.
Within 20 days of the Order granting the change of name, the Petitioner must publish the change of name once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the petitioner resides.
