Learn how to process a legal name change for a child under 18.
How to Ask the Court to Change a Name in the Chancery Division, Family Part
This kit has all of the forms and instructions for self-represented litigants to request a name change for their child in the family division. If you also are seeking a name change for yourself, you can do that while requesting a name change for your child.
Do not use this form if you are only seeking to change your own name. Instead, follow the instructions for filing for a name change in the civil division.
If there is an active restraining order between you and the other parent, call the family court in your county for more information.
Note: You must be 18 to file a court case. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must file the case for you.
10 steps to file for name change for your minor child(ren)
- Complete the forms. Note that the court must fill in some parts of some of the forms.
For each child, complete these forms:- Verified Complaint (Form F)
- Certification of Confidential information (Form F1)
- Order Fixing Date of Hearing (Form G)
- Final Judgment (Form H)
- Only complete these forms if you are also requesting a name change for yourself:
- Verified Complaint (Form A)
- Certification of Confidential Information (Form A1)
- Order Fixing Date of Hearing (Form B)
- Final Judgment (Form C)
- Prepare the $250 filing fee. If you are filing electronically, you can use a credit card. If you are mailing or delivering your papers in person, make out a check for $250 payable to “Treasurer, State of NJ.” If you are changing the names of multiple family members, the $250 fee covers all name change applications.
Do you qualify for a fee waiver?
- Check your forms and make sure they are complete. Remove all instruction sheets. Make sure you have signed all the forms wherever necessary.
Checklist:- Form F: Verified Complaint
- Form F1: Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change
- Form G: Order Fixing Date of Hearing
- Form H: Final Judgment
- Form H1: Final Judgment Addendum
- $250 Payment
If you are requesting a name change for yourself, you also need:- Form A: Verified Complaint
- Form A1: Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change
- Form B: Order Fixing Date of Hearing
- Form C: Final Judgment
- Form C1: Final Judgment Addendum
- File your papers with the court. Upload your forms in the Judiciary Electronic Document System (JEDS). You can pay the fee with a credit card. You also can mail or deliver your documents to the court. First, make two copies of your documents. Mail the originals plus one copy to the family division of Superior Court in the county where you live. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a check or money order for the filing fee. Send by certified mail with return receipt. The post office can tell you how to do this.
- Review papers returned from the court. The court will return copies of the Verified Complaint, Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change and Order Fixing Date of Hearing to you.
The case docket number will be written on all the copies. The docket number is very important because it identifies your case. It also lets the court know how to find your case. You must use the docket number on all future papers you send to the court about your case. The court will fill in the date on the Order Fixing Date of Hearing. That is the day you will appear before the judge to get the Final Judgment.
- If neither you nor your child have pending criminal or delinquent charges in New Jersey, skip this step.
If you or your child have pending criminal or delinquent charges, you must notify law enforcement of your name change application. You must send notification at least 20 days before your hearing date.
Send copies of the following documents:- Verified Complaint,
- Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change
- Order Fixing Date of Hearing
For charges filed by any county prosecutor, send the forms to the county prosecutor in the county where you are filing the name change case.
For charges filed by the attorney general, send the forms to the Division of Criminal Justice (see Step 8).
Send by certified mail, return receipt requested.
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Notify the State of New Jersey of the Application for a Name Change. You must send notification at least 20 days before your hearing date.
Send a copy of the Order Fixing Date of Hearing for each child to:
Director, Division of Criminal Justice
ATTN: Records and Identification Section
R. J. Hughes Justice Complex
25 Market Street
P. O. Box 085
Trenton, NJ 08625-0085Include a copy of the Order for yourself if you also are changing your name.
Note: If you or your child has criminal charges pending against you in New Jersey, you must also include a copy of the Verified Complaint and Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change. Send by certified mail, return receipt requested. - Notify the other parent. If you are changing the name of a child under the age 18 and the child’s other parent does not live with you, you must send a copy of the Verified Complaint (Form F) and the Order Fixing Date for Hearing (Form G) to the last known address of the other parent. Send by certified mail, return receipt requested.
- Complete a Proof of Mailing Form (Form J) for each child and send to the court. Also complete and send a copy. of Form D if you are changing your own name. Be sure to attach the green certified mail receipt(s) to the Proof of Mailing. Send the Proof of Mailing to the court. Keep copies of the form and the receipts for your files.
Prepare for Court
You should arrive in court on the date set for your hearing on the Order Fixing Date for Hearing. Be sure to bring with you proof of your current name. Proof could include birth certificates, passports, and driver’s licenses.
Steps to Take After the Name Change Is Issued
- Order certified copies of the Final Judgment and Final Judgment Addendum. Certified copies have a raised seal. You will need at least two certified copies of each document. Licensed drivers will need three copies of each document. Copies can be ordered through JEDS. There is a $25 fee for each copy of each document. The fee can be paid with a credit card.
- Send one set of certified copies to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Include a $50 fee for every family member whose name was changed. Make the check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of New Jersey.” This must be done within 45 days after the date of the name change. Mail the documents, the check or money order, and stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
Department of Treasury
Division of Revenue
Judgment Name Change Unit
P. O. Box 453
Trenton, NJ 08646
- Send one set of certified copies to the registrar of vital statistics in the state where the child was born. If your name also was changed, send your own certified copies to the state where you were born. The office of the registrar is located in the capital city of each state. Check with each office to see if they require a fee.
In New Jersey, the address for Bureau of Vital Statistics address is:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Records Modifications Unit
P. O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625
- Licensed drivers must bring one set of certified copies to the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission. Each driver must go to the agency in person to change your driver’s license, car registration, or handicapped or non-driver identification card. You can go to at any motor vehicle agency location or regional service center. This must be done within two weeks after the effective date listed on the Final Judgment. The effective date is not the date of the hearing or the date the final judgment was signed. The effective date is the date you may begin using your assumed name. You will need several forms of ID to get a new license. Go to njmvc.gov for more information on how to change the name on your license or identification card.