A marriage or a divorce may trigger a court-approved name change in Ohio. In other cases, a court order for name change is needed.http://www.ohiolegalservices.org/public/legal_problem/family-law/name-changes/qandact_view This page provides information on how to change your name in Ohio by means of a court order. Only residents of Ohio living in a county for at least one year can change their names through orders issued by the Ohio probate courts.http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2717.01

Petitioners born in Ohio since December 20, 1908 must file a certified copy of the court order to the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics when the name change has been granted. Court orders obtained outside Ohio must be issued by a court comparable to the county probate courts in Ohio. Petitioners born before December 20, 1908 or individuals without birth certificates should file a delayed birth registration together with the certified copy of the court order.http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/leglname.aspx The petitioner should change relevant legal records which include but are not limited to social security card, driver’s license, IRS file, bank accounts, insurance policies and retirement plans, employment or school record, passport, voter registration, health and medical records and property ownership.http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/probate/departments/name_change.cfm

Obtain the relevant forms from the probate court of the county in which the petitioner resides. The forms can also be downloaded from the website of the Supreme Court of Ohio & the Ohio Judicial System.http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/Default.asp#name For minor children, the petition should be prepared by a parent, a guardian or a guardian ad litem. File all the documents to the probate court clerk. The court clerk will give details of a hearing for the name change. The non-applicant parent must also be notified of the hearing.http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2717

The petitioner must publish a notice of the application with a local newspaper once at least 30 days before the hearing. The petitioner should ask the newspaper for proof of publication and take it to the hearing.http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2717.01

If the judge is satisfied with the petition, a Judgment Entry will be signed and issued. The petitioner should take the original copy of the Judgment Entry to the court clerk for record. Certified copies can be obtained from the court for a fee.http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/probate_forms/nameChange/21_1.pdf

The content of this page is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal advice.