How to Change a Name on a Wisconsin Birth Certificate
Some name corrections on a Wisconsin birth certificate, like a misspelling, can be corrected by contacting the Vital Records department directly and submitting any required documents. Other corrections, such as a total name change, require a court order. To process these corrections, you do not have to contact the Vital Records department. Corrections to a birth certificate are instead processed through the court. To determine whether or not the change you desire requires a court order, call Vital Records at 608-266-1371. If no court order is required, Vital Records indicates what documents are required to process the change.
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Things You'll Need
- State-issued driver's license or government issued identification card
- Original birth certificate
Instructions
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Go to the local county court in Wisconsin.
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Obtain and complete a "Petition for Change of Name," "Notice of Hearing," "Order for Hearing" and "Order for Change of Name. These forms are available in the court clerk's office. The Petition for Change of Name form must be notarized.
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Make three copies of the signed and notarized Petition for Change of Name form. Also two to three copies of each completed form so you have copies for your own records.
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File all forms, including the two copies of the Petition for Change of Name form, with the court clerk. Show your state-issued identification and birth certificate, if asked. Pay the filing fee, which in 2010 was $158.50. The cashier assigns a case number and judge, and keeps the original Petition for Change of Name and the Order for Change of Name forms. Keep one copy of the Petition for Change of Name for your own records.
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Take the remaining forms to the deputy clerk in assigned judge's courtroom. The clerk assigns a court date for hearing; the judge signs and keeps the "Order for Hearing" and "Petition for Change of Name" forms.
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Publish the "Notice of Hearing" with a newspaper. For example, The Daily Reporter in Milwaukee publishes legal notices. Just drop off the "Notice of Hearing" form and pay the publishing fee. This must be completed before the hearing.
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Attend the schedule court hearing. Under oath, tell the judge your birth name and your desired name. Also reveal the purpose for requesting the name change. If the petition is granted, the judge will sign the "Order For Name Change."
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File the "Order For Name Change." Take the signed order to the Register of Deeds room in the courthouse. File one copy of the order with the Registrar, the filing fee is $10 (as of 2010).
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Go to the Cashier's office and request that they forward a completed Vital Statistics form to the State Registrar which will change the name on your birth certificate. The original birth certificate may need to be attached to the Vital Statistic form. There is a fee of $22 (as of 2010) to record this change.
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