How to Change Your Name in Indiana
In Indiana, persons who are over the age of eighteen may petition a court to ask the court to grant a legal name change. Felons who have been convicted within ten years of filing a petitioner, incarcerated individuals and registered sex/violent offenders cannot petition an Indiana court for a name change.
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Instructions
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Prepare and verify a Petition for Change of Name of Adult. The petition is a short, legal document which provides basic information to the court about your request. In the petition, state your current name, address and telephone number. Also state your proposed new name. Explain the reason why you are requesting a name change. Affirm that you are not requesting a name change in order to evade your debts and other legal obligations. Affirm that you have not been convicted of a felony within the past ten years. Affirm that you are not required to register as a sex or violent offender. End the petition by asking the court to grant your request. The petition must be signed by you, under penalty of perjury. You must also provide a verification, in front of a notary public, stating that all of the facts of the petition are known to be true to you, to the best of your ability.
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File the Petition for Change of Name of Adult with the clerk of the court in the county in which you reside. You will need to provide the court clerk with an original and two copies and pay a filing fee of $136. Once filing is complete, the clerk will assign you a name change hearing date. On this date, a judge will decide whether to grant your name change request.
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Prepare and publish Notice of Petition for Change of Name form. Indiana law requires that you publish your intent to change your name in your local newspaper. The Notice of Petition is a short statement declaring your intent to change your name. It advises the public of your proposed new name and the date of your name change hearing. The Notice of Petition must be published once a week, for three consecutive weeks, at least one month prior to your hearing date. You will receive a Proof of Publication from the newspaper which you must submit to the court along with an affidavit stating you have complied with the publishing requirement.
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Attend your name change hearing. The hearing is straightforward and requires little to no preparation. Bring a copy of your Petition for Change of Name of Adult and Notice of Petition for Change of Name. The judge will review the documents and decide whether to grant your request. If the judge signs an order granting your name change, thereafter, inform your creditors, government agencies and other interested parties of your new name.
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