How to Change Your Name in Texas as an Adult

When you change your name because of a marriage or a divorce, the marriage certificate or divorce decree does the legal work. When you want to change your name for any other reason, you need a court order. In Texas, that means filing a petition.

It sounds bigger than it usually is. Plenty of adults do it on their own. Here is how it works, start to finish.

This is general information about the Texas process, not legal advice. Your district clerk and an attorney licensed in Texas are the people to ask about your specific case.

When you need a court order

You need a petition and court order if you are changing your name and:

• It is not happening as part of a marriage, or
• It was not done in your divorce decree, and you want your former name back now, or
• You want a name that is not simply your spouse's name or a former name — a new first name, a new middle name, or a new last name altogether.

If you are trying to get your name back after a divorce, check your decree first. You may not need a separate case. See how to change your name after divorce.

Changing a child's name is a different process with different rules. This article covers adults only.

What the petition has to include

Texas Family Code Section 45.102 sets out what an adult's name change petition must contain. It has to be verified — signed under oath, usually in front of a notary or the clerk — and include:

• Your current name and where you live
• The full name you are asking for
• The reason you want the change
• Whether you have a final felony conviction
• Whether you are required to register as a sex offender
• Your fingerprints (more on this below)

The statute lists a few more items. Read the current text of Section 45.102 on the Texas Legislature's statutes site, or use a form that is built around it.

About the reason

You do not need a dramatic reason. People change their names because they never liked the one they were given, to honor a family member, to match the name they have always gone by, or simply to start fresh. Be honest and keep it plain. A name change cannot be used to dodge debts, avoid a criminal record, or commit fraud, and the court can say no if it looks that way.

The fingerprint step

This is the part that surprises people. Texas requires a set of your fingerprints with an adult name change petition.

The Texas State Law Library explains that you usually need two fingerprint cards:

• One to attach to your petition when you file it.
• One to send to the Texas Department of Public Safety after you file, along with what DPS asks for. DPS form CR-65 covers that step.

Some counties want a copy of your filed petition, with the court and case number, attached to the card you send DPS. Courts do not all handle this the same way, so ask your district clerk exactly what they want before you get fingerprinted.

If you have a criminal record

Texas Family Code Section 45.103 adds requirements for people with certain criminal history, including felony convictions and sex offender registration. Do not guess about how they apply to you. Talk to an attorney licensed in Texas or a legal aid office before you file.

Filing, step by step

1. Get the forms. The Texas State Law Library has a name change guide for adults, and TexasLawHelp.org has forms and instructions. Some counties also post their own.
2. Call or check with your district clerk. Ask where to file, the current filing fee, whether they want anything local, and how fingerprints are handled. If you cannot afford the fee, ask about the form to request a fee waiver.
3. Get fingerprinted on the card format DPS accepts.
4. Sign the petition under oath and file it with the clerk, along with your fingerprint card.
5. Send the second card to DPS as your clerk and the DPS form instruct.
6. Go to the hearing if the court sets one. Bring your ID and a copy of everything you filed. The judge may ask a few simple questions about why you want the change.
7. Get the signed order. If the judge grants it, the order is your legal proof of the new name.

After the judge signs

Before you leave the courthouse, order certified copies of the signed order from the clerk. Get several. Social Security, DPS, the passport office and your bank will each want to see one, and some keep what you mail them for a while.

Then update everything else in order:

1. Social Security first. See how to change your name on your Social Security card.
2. Texas driver's license or ID, within 30 days of the change. See how to change your name on a Texas driver's license.
3. Passport. See how to change your name on your passport.
4. Work, banks, insurance and the rest. The full list is in what order to change your name in; the same sequence works for a court order.

A court order changes your legal name. It does not change your birth certificate by itself. If you want your birth certificate amended, that is a separate request to the vital records office in the state where you were born.

If you are changing your name for safety

If you are changing your name to get away from someone who has hurt you, tell the court and ask what protections are available. A domestic violence advocate or legal aid office can help you plan it so your new name is not easy to find.

If you are in danger right now, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.

The short version

1. Check whether you need a court order, or whether a marriage certificate or divorce decree already covers you.
2. Get the adult name change forms and talk to your district clerk.
3. Get fingerprinted. Plan on two cards.
4. File a verified petition with your fingerprints, and send the second card to DPS.
5. Go to the hearing, get the signed order, and order several certified copies.
6. Social Security first, then your license within 30 days, then everything else.

Courts set their own fees and local rules, and the law can change. Confirm the details with your district clerk, and talk to an attorney licensed in Texas if anything about your situation is complicated.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Name-change rules, forms, fees and processing times are set by courts and agencies, differ by state, and change. Confirm every requirement with the court or agency handling your case, and talk to an attorney licensed in your state if your situation is complicated.