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

  • During the final divorce could I change my name back to my maiden name but also keep my married last name, Just hyphen it? EX: jane doe-smoe
  • I am a widow and would like to return to my maiden name; do I need to file a name change request? or can I just go back to my maiden name
  • I want to hyphenate my daughter's last name.She currently has her biological father's last name,who has nothing to do with her.I have remarried and want to give her mine and my husband's last name,who is the only father she knows.Can I do that? And since I am not removing my ex's last name,do I still need his consent?
  • Hi, I turned 22, and would like the same last name as my mother. Can you please let me know what is the fee for doing that? I want to surprise her it would make her so happy. Thank you for your time.
  • How much is it to change fathers name on birth cert. I have a court order to change this I jus don't know how much it will cost
  • I would like to know the cost of a name change for my child, and i woudl liek to print off the forms to do it myself but the link in the text would not pull up the site. thank you
  • I have a 5 year old and she has my maiden name as her last name (her biological father is not in the picture and never has been) I recently got married and would like to hyphenate her last name with my maiden name and my married name. How would I go about doing that? Is it possible to do without her "fathers" permission since I couldn't even tell you where he is?
  • Hello, I got my name changed in Tucson years ago, but can't find the document proof! I've moved away from the area to another state. Is there a way I can get the proof of a name change paper mailed to me?
  • need a copy of name change where do i go or call
  • when you graduate medical school, do you have to legally change your name to DR.?

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FIND LEGAL HELP

  • Please select your county of residence below.

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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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