How to Change Your Name in Nebraska
Adults who wish to change their names in Nebraska must file a petition with the district court in the county in which they live, a process that can be completed with or without a lawyer. Although the process can be completed "pro se," or without legal counsel, it can be complicated and the state's judicial branch recommends hiring a lawyer to help with the name change process. Petitioners must have been a legal resident in the county for at least one year prior to petitioning for a name change.
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Instructions
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Obtain a copy of the Name Change Petition by visiting the clerk of the district court's office or printing a copy online at www.supremecourt.ne.gov/forms/district/DC-6-9-1-fillable.pdf. On this form, you'll need to enter the name of the county in which you reside, your current first, middle and last name, the reason you are requesting the name change and your preferred new first, middle and last name. Fill in every field on the petition except the case number.
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Bring your completed petition along with the filing fee to the clerk of the district court in your county. The clerk of the district court will give you your case number when your paperwork is filed.
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Ask the clerk of the district court for the name and phone number of the baliff or other court personnel who schedules the hearings in your county. Because you will need to publish a legal notice announcing your name change in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks, the hearing date should be set at least six weeks in advance of publication of that notice.
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Fill out the legal notice form and submit it to the local newspaper where the notice must be published. Obtain a copy of the legal notice form from the clerk of the district court's office or by logging on to www.supremecourt.ne.gov/forms/district/DC-6-9-2-fillable.pdf.
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Complete the Decree of Name Change at www.supremecourt.ne.gov/forms/district/DC-6-9-3-fillable.pdf. The form can also be obtained from the clerk of the district court's office if you lack Internet access. You'll need to bring two copies of the decree to the hearing.
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Prepare to testify under oath regarding the facts surrounding your name change. In front of the court, you'll need to testify that your current name is correct, that you have lived in the county for at least one year, what you wish to change your name to and the reason why you are requesting a name change.
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Contact the clerk of the district court to ensure that the newspaper provided an affidavit proving that the legal notice announcing your name change was published once a week for four weeks.
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Go to the courthouse on your hearing date and testify in regards to the information in your petition. Arrive at the courthouse 15 minutes before the time that your hearing is scheduled.
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Obtain a certified copy of the Decree of Name Change from the clerk of the district court once the request has been approved. This form should be given to the Motor Vehicle Administration and the Social Security Administration to change your name on your license and Social Security card.
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Tips & Warnings
Go to http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov to find information online regarding the process of changing a name in Nebraska. Click on the "Self Help Center," located in the menu on the left side of the Nebraska Judicial Branch homepage. Under the "Find Help With" heading, you'll find a link to information on adult name changes in Nebraska.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit courthouse image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com
