Policies on a Name Change in a Marriage in Hawaii

After the ceremony comes the paperwork.

In Hawaii, as with any other state, there are specific guidelines and laws to follow in order to get your name changed successfully after getting married. Typically, the name change process includes a small fee and the completion of some documents, but is a fairly simple task for newlyweds.

The Law

Hawaii Revised Statutes 574-575 provide that a name may be legally changed only by an administrative order which should be notarized by the Lieutenant Governor and signed by the requesting person. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor is required to perform a background check on all applicants for a name change. If you have been convicted of a felony or a sexual offense, then you must provide the type and date of conviction. If either person is a convicted sex offender, a legal name change will be prohibited in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor without prior court approval.

The Paperwork

There is a $50 non-refundable filing fee, payable by cashier's check or money order. Cash is only acceptable if you hand carry your documents in to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. All paperwork must be typed, including both applicants full, legal names. These names must match what appears on your birth certificates. You will be required to provide the date and place of your marriage and all other information requested. You will be able to type the names of each applicant the way you want it spelled once the legal change is complete. The documents must be signed, with your full legal name, in black ink in front of the notary. The notary will then notarize the document.

What comes next

After being processed by the Lieutenant Governor, the form will be returned to you. You will have 60 days to have the announcement published in a newspaper of general circulation, which is required by law. If this is not completed within 60 calendar days, your petition will become void. After being published, the newspaper will send the original affidavit to you. They will also send one to the Lieutenant Governor. When the Lieutenant Governor receives the affidavit, it will be signed and sent to you. You will then need to send the signed original to the Bureau of Conveyances with $30.00. You will have four remaining copies for personal use.

References

• Hawaii Lieutenant Governor's Office: Name Changes

Resources

• Form B- Name Change for Husband and Wife