Name Change

Child Name Change

The minor child must be a resident of the county in which you are filing the Petition for Name Change.

If the minor child is under the age of 19 years and is the subject of a case concerning child support, allocation of parental responsibilities, or parenting time, the Petition for Name Change must be filed in the same District Court as that case.

The Parent/Petitioner must be 18 years of age or older.

A minor child who is over 14 years of age, must not have been adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent for an offense that would be a felony if it were committed by an adult in this state, in any other state, or under federal law.

The minor child, if 14 years of age or older, must have completed a fingerprint-based criminal history record check within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition for Name Change.

Unless the Court has ordered that publication is NOT required, proof of publication must be completed and submitted to the Court prior to the name change being officially granted.

For additional information, please review Colorado Revised Statutes §13-15-101 and §13-15-102.

Criminal Background Check for Children

Complete instructions can be found at JDF 420 - Instructions for filing a Change of Name - Minor.

If the minor child is over 14 years of age, a fingerprint-based criminal history check is required from both the CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition.

Law enforcement agencies are no longer required to provide fingerprinting for civil cases. Some law enforcement agencies will refer you to Colorado Application Background Services (CABS). 

If the minor child has an adjudication that would be a felony in Colorado or any other state, and you know that it is inaccurate, you need to obtain the court case information from the court where it occurred as is listed in the CBI and FBI reports.

You are also responsible for providing certified copies of any criminal dispositions of the minor child that are not reflected in the CBI or FBI records, and any other dispositions which are unknown, by contacting the agency where such actions occurred.

Forms

Forms for Child Name Change

  • JDF 421 - Petition for Change of Name of Minor Child
  • JDF 422 - Notice to Non-Custodial Parent
  • JDF 423 - Consent of Non-Custodial Parent
  • JDF 424 - Request to Publish Notice to Non-Custodial Parent of Change of Minor’s Name and Publication Order
  • JDF 425 - Notice to Non-Custodial Parent by Publication
  • JDF 426 - Order for Publication for Change of Name
  • JDF 427 - Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name (Minor/Adult)
  • JDF 448 - Final Decree for Change of Name
  1. Complete all sections of form JDF 421 - Petition for Change of Minor Child. Make sure to write the full legal name of the child and the proposed name on the caption box part of this form.  Check your spelling as this is the official request to change the child’s name.  If a name is spelled incorrectly and the Petition is granted, you may need to start the process again from the beginning.
  2. A minor child who is over 14 years of age, attach the fingerprint-based FBI and CBI criminal history checks to the Petition and identify them as "Exhibit A". Make sure that the fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are conducted within 90 days prior to the filing of the Petition. Attach any other criminal disposition documentation the child may have and identify it as "Exhibit B".
  3. The Petition must be signed by the parent/Petitioner in the presence of a Court Clerk of Notary Public. You can find a Notary Public by looking in the Yellow Pages, on the internet, or by going to your local bank.
  4. Notify the Non-Custodial Parent using form JDF 422 - Notice to Non-Custodial Parent. This form must be sent by certified mail to the Non-Custodial Parent and proof of mailing must be filed with the court at least 14 days prior to the name change court hearing. If the Non-Custodial Parent is deceased, then the parent/Petitioner must provide a death certificate.
  5. Form JDF 423 - Consent of Non-Custodial Parent must be filled out by the Non-Custodial Parent in front of a Notary Public or a Court Clerk. If the Non-Custodial Parent is deceased, then the parent/Petitioner must provide a death certificate. If the Non-Custodial Parent cannot fill out and sign the JDF 423 - Consent of Non-Custodial Parent form, or if the location of the Non-Custodial Parent is unknown, you may ask the Court to order publication of the notice in a local newspaper.  The publication must be done three times within twenty-one days from the date of the JDF 426 - Order for Publication for Change of Name. The JDF 424 - Request to Publish Notice to Non-Custodial Parent of Change of Minor’s Name and Publication Order and the JDF 425 - Notice to Non-Custodial Parent by Publication may also be required by the court.
  6. Complete the caption box only of form JDF 448 - Final Decree for Change of Name. This form proves that the name change has been granted by the court. The judge or magistrate will sign the Decree only upon proof of publication (if required).  If publication was not required, then the judge or magistrate will sign the Decree according to their county's local procedures.

If you do not think you can afford it, you can request a waiver of the filing fee by completing form JDF 205 - Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit, and the caption box of JDF 206 - Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees or visit our File Without Payment for complete information.

Filing

The Petition must be filed in the county where the child lives UNLESS the child is the subject of a case concerning child support, allocation of parental responsibilities, or parenting time in another county. If so, the Petition for Name Change must be filed in the same District Court as that case. Contact the court in the county where you are filing your name change petition to find out their process. To find the correct court, search Courts by County.

Background checks that are no more than 90 days old from the FBI and CBI (if the minor child is over 14 years of age) are needed.

The Hearing

Both parents must be present at the hearing. If the Non-Custodial Parent is unable to appear, then proof of notice to the Non-Custodial Parent must be provided to the court before the hearing date. If the JDF 427 - Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name (Minor/Adult) is necessary, the judge or magistrate will determine that at the court hearing. If publication is ordered, it must be done at least 3 times within 21 days. The JDF 448 - Final Decree for Change of Name will be signed and ordered by the judge or magistrate once proof of the publication is provided to the Court.