How to Legally Change Your Child's Name in Colorado

Reviewing a petition for a name change pending in a Colorado court.

Changing the name of a minor child is permissible under the laws of the state of Colorado. Colorado law establishes a specific procedure to change the name of your child. You must make sure that you follow the prescribed procedure appropriately. The failure to comply with the law pertaining to a name change will result in a dismissal of the case or a denial of the name change itself.

Things You'll Need

• Petition for name change
• Notice of hearing
• Publication notice for newspaper

Instructions

1. Obtain a petition for a name change. The court clerk in the county where you and your child reside maintains standard forms for use by people without legal representation. The petition form is also available through the Colorado Judicial Branch's Internet website.

2. Complete the petition form.

3. Include your name and the name of your child in the petition. Note your relationship to the child.

4. Insert the name of the other parent if you remain married and the other parent joins in the request for the name change.

5. Add information about the status of your relationship with the other parent if you are divorced, separated or never married and if the other parent does not join in the request.

6. Explain on the petition the reason a name change is sought.

7. Sign the petition.

8. Attach a copy of any current order pertaining to the custody of the child in question if you and the other parent are not legally or otherwise together

9. File the completed petition with the court clerk.

10. Obtain a hearing date and time from the court clerk.

11. Obtain a notice of hearing form from the court clerk. Insert the date and time of the hearing on the form. The notice form is also available through the Colorado Judicial Branch's Internet website.

12. Send a copy of the petition and the notice of hearing to the non-custodial parent. Even if the child has the same last name as the non-custodial parent, that parent does not have the ability under Colorado law to stop the name change. However, a non-custodial parent is entitled to notice of the name change proceedings and the hearing date. Sending the petition and notice of hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested, is sufficient to demonstrate you made a reasonable attempt to provide notice.

13. Request a legal publication notice form from the court clerk. Insert the information necessary for that form. The legal publication notice form is also found through the Colorado Judicial Branch's Internet website. The information to be included is the caption of the case, the case number, the notation that it is a petition for a name change, and the date and time of the hearing.

14. Submit the publication notice to the local newspaper for publication in the legal notices section.

15. Obtain an affidavit of publication from the newspaper. File the affidavit confirming publication with the court clerk.

16. Attend the hearing and explain to the court the reason for the name change for your child. Provided your request is for a legal purpose, and assuming no credible objection, the judge likely will approve the name change. The judge will issue an order changing your child's name at that juncture.

References

• Name Change Law:: Colorado Name Change Law (including child)
• Consumer Reports: Name Change Information (including child)
• Denver County/District Court: Petition for Change of Name (Minor Child)

Resources

• Colorado State Judicial Branch: Minor Name Change Forms