Changing Your Name in Connecticut
How adults change their legal name in Connecticut: the court petition, publication, fees, and restoring a name after divorce.
Short answer: An adult can ask either the Superior Court for the judicial district where he or she lives or the Probate Court to change his or her name; both courts have authority. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-11, 45a-99
| Legal name change | An adult can ask either the Superior Court for the judicial district where he or she lives or the Probate Court to change his or her name; both courts have authority. A person required to register as a sexual offender or deadly-weapon offender must notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection before filing and include a sworn statement that the change is not meant to avoid the consequences of a conviction; the court may deny the request if it finds that purpose. Superior Court statute: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_895.htm |
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| Changing your name after divorce | When entering a divorce decree, the court must restore a spouse's birth name or former name if that spouse asks. A spouse can also ask any time after the divorce by motion, and the court rules on it without a hearing. A joint petition for nonadversarial divorce can include the request. |
Where to get help in Connecticut
More Connecticut divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in Connecticut
- Adopting a Child in Connecticut
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in Connecticut
- Establishing Paternity in Connecticut
- Child Custody Laws in Connecticut
- How Child Support Is Calculated in Connecticut
- Divorce Records in Connecticut
- Alimony and Spousal Support in Connecticut
- How to File for Divorce in Connecticut
- Legal Separation and Annulment in Connecticut
- All Connecticut divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How do you legally change your name in Connecticut?
An adult can ask either the Superior Court for the judicial district where he or she lives or the Probate Court to change his or her name; both courts have authority. A person required to register as a sexual offender or deadly-weapon offender must notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection before filing and include a sworn statement that the change is not meant to avoid the consequences of a conviction; the court may deny the request if it finds that purpose.
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Connecticut?
When entering a divorce decree, the court must restore a spouse's birth name or former name if that spouse asks. A spouse can also ask any time after the divorce by motion, and the court rules on it without a hearing. A joint petition for nonadversarial divorce can include the request.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.