Form

Petition to Change Name of Adult

If you are over 18 and live in Massachusetts, you can use this form to change your name on official documents.

The court will ask for the reason for your name change, but "it is the name that I use" is enough reason.

If your name change is part of affirming your expressed gender identity, you can file a separate request to change your gender markers on official documents. This interview does not help you make the request to change your gender markers.

After you finish the interview you need to sign the petition in front of a notary and file it with the court.

More information:

• Legally change your name as an adult
• Original form

Can I use this interview?

You need to be 18 to use this form. There is a separate form for people under 18.

You should not use this interview to change your name if:

• You are getting married. You can change your name as part of the marriage process.
• You are getting divorced and want to use the same name you had before your marriage. You can change your name as part of the divorce process.
• You are becoming a United States Citizen. You can change your name as part of the citizenship process.

Before you start

After you file the document this interview makes, you also need to file a certified copy of your birth certificate and any past orders for a name change. You may want to get those ready.

This document needs to be signed in front of a notary. You can find a notary at your bank, town hall, or some office services stores, like the UPS store.

If the judge grants your petition you must publish a notice of your name change in a local newspaper unless you ask for special permission. This interview can help you make the form to get permission to skip publishing your name in a local newspaper.

Start interview