Family & Safety

You will need to fill out these two forms to begin the process to change your name:

• Request for Name Change (Adult Name Change): Asks the judge to change your name.
• Order for Name Change (Adult Name Change):  The judge will sign this to approve or deny To refuse or say no your request. You will need this to change your name.
  • If you were born outside of Illinois in a state that allows changes to a birth record after a legal name change, there may be additional information required in the Order to change the records. Research what is required so you can include this in the Order.

If it would be a hardship or have a negative impact on your health or safety to have your court file open to the public, you can file a Motion to Impound (Make Court Records Private) along with the Order to Impound.  Your forms will be considered a public record until the judge signs the order granting the motion, assuming it is granted. If the motion is granted, then only people involved in the case (such as court staff and the judge) can see the documents unless the judge gives someone else permission. 

Note that if you are filing your name change in Cook county (1st District), then you must also file a photo or scan of your birth certificate A legal document with a person's place of birth, time of birth, and parents and photo ID as an exhibit A document introduced as evidence in a trial (pdf A type of document that can be viewed and printed from many devices in portrait orientation).  You can redact sensitive information. If your ID does not show a Cook county address, provide additional proof of address like a bill or lease. If your birth certificate is in a language other than English, you may need to provide a certified translation. 

Fill out your forms with our Easy Form program. 

After you fill out your forms, sign them and make three copies of each one.

Now that you have filled out your forms, you need to file them with the appropriate circuit clerk. You will need to electronically file ("e-file") them unless you have an exemption. 

There are fees to file many court forms, especially when starting a case. Fees are different from case to case and county to county. Contact the circuit clerk to find out about their fees. Many circuit clerks list their fees on their website. 

If you qualify, you can get a fee waiver. A fee waiver allows you to file for free or at a reduced cost. 

When you file your name change forms, you'll need a hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer date. 

How you will find out about the court date (or hearing date) and time depends on how you filed your case.

• E-filing Short for "electronic filing." You file court papers using a computer instead of handing them to the clerk in person. This is required in Illinois as of 1/1/18. : The website you used to electronically file may let you pick your court date (or hearing date) and time, or you will receive your hearing date when your filing is approved. If not, contact the clerk.
• Paper filing: If you filed in person at the courthouse, the clerk will let you pick, or they may pick for you.

You will have a hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer before a judge regarding your request to change your name. The hearing might be held in person at the courthouse. It might also be a “remote appearance A form that lets the plaintiff and the court know the defendant is participating in the case. It can also be when a person shows up to their court hearing. ” over the phone or video.

If you’re going in person, get to the courtroom listed on your form at least 45 minutes before your hearing time. Bring with you:

• Stamped copies of the Request for Name Change (Adult Any person 18 years old or over Name Change) and Order for Name Change (Adult Name Change),
• Photo ID,
• Criminal records, such as records showing your felony A serious crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison sentences were discharged, as well as information relevant to your eligibility to change your name, and
• Judgment An official decision by a court that ends the dispute between parties for Dissolution of Marriage Divorce or Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage if you're changing your name due to divorce.

Check in quietly with the judge's clerk. Wait for your name and case number A number assigned to a case that is on every paper filed in the case to be called.

If appearing by Zoom, log in five minutes before your hearing time. The Zoom courtroom likely won’t be open before then. Make sure the Zoom account shows your name. You will be required to have your camera on for the hearing.

You may be placed under oath. Answer A written statement used to respond to the complaint or petition in a lawsuit the judge's questions truthfully. The judge may grant or deny To refuse or say no your Request for Name Change (Adult), or they may schedule another court hearing if they need more information. If granting or denying the request, the judge will write this on your Order for Name Change (Adult) and sign it.

If the judge approves your name change and you appeared in person, the judge’s clerk may give you a copy of the signed Order to be filed with the Clerk. Go to the appropriate Clerk’s office to ask for certified copies.

If you appear by Zoom, a copy of the Order will be emailed to you. You will receive instructions on how to obtain certified copies. 

Be sure to obtain multiple certified copies, as you will need these to request updated records and documents from organizations and businesses.

You have the right to ask for another hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer if your name change request is denied. If your request was denied because of a mistake on your part, ask the judge to continue the hearing to a later date so you can correct the error.

Whenever you lose in court, you have the right to file an appeal. You will have 30 days from the date of the judge's decision to do this.