Change Your Name
Iowa Law
A person who is eighteen years of age or older and who has
no civil disabilities may apply to the court to change the person's name by
filing a verified petition. If you are
seeking a name change as part of a pending divorce, you should include your
request for name change in your divorce papers rather than using this
procedure.
A petition for name change must include:
- Your
current name,
- Specific
personal identifying information,
- Place
of residence(s) for the past five years,
- Reason
for request,
- The legal
description of all real estate in Iowa you own, including property in
which you have a full or partial legal interest, and
- The
new name you want.
You must attach a certified copy of your birth certificate.
If
you are married, you must serve the petition on your spouse in the manner of
original notice.
Form — For Adult Name
Change Only
Complete the name
change petition, file it with the clerk of district court, and pay the
filing fee. Do not use this form if you
want to change the name of your minor child.
Limits
Iowa law
allows only one name change per person under this procedure unless just cause
is shown. This limit does not apply to
a name change arising from a divorce proceeding.
Name Change for Minor Child
There are
additional requirements for a name change that is for, or on behalf of, a child
under the age of eighteen years old. If
the child is fourteen years of age or older, you must provide the child's
written consent to the name change. If
the child is under fourteen years old, both parents named on the birth
certificate must file their written consent to the name change.
If one
parent does not consent, the court will set a hearing. At the hearing, the court may waive the need
for both parents' consent if it finds one of the following:
- The parent has abandoned the
child.
- The parent has failed, without
good cause, to support the child or contribute financially for the child's
birth.
- The parent does not object to
the name change after receiving proper notice.
A form for
this purpose is currently not available.
