Changing Your Name in Hawaii
How adults change their legal name in Hawaii: the court petition, publication, fees, and restoring a name after divorce.
Short answer: In Hawaii, an adult changes his or her name outside divorce by a notarized petition to the Lieutenant Governor, not a court. The nonrefundable filing fee is $50. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 574-5
| Legal name change | In Hawaii, an adult changes his or her name outside divorce by a notarized petition to the Lieutenant Governor, not a court. The nonrefundable filing fee is $50. After the Lieutenant Governor signs the order, a notice of the change must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation, and within 60 days the petitioner must file the newspaper's affidavit of publication with the Lieutenant Governor's office or the petition is void. Publication can be skipped if a prosecuting attorney's affidavit shows it is needed for the petitioner's protection. Registered sex offenders generally cannot change their names this way. Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 574-5 |
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| Changing your name after divorce | In a divorce, either spouse may ask to resume the middle and last names used before the marriage (or a name used during a prior marriage), and the court includes the change in the divorce decree. The court can also change a minor child's name in the divorce if it is in the child's best interest. Other adult name changes are made by order of the lieutenant governor. Source: HRS § 574-5(a) |
Where to get help in Hawaii
More Hawaii divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in Hawaii
- Adopting a Child in Hawaii
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in Hawaii
- Establishing Paternity in Hawaii
- Child Custody Laws in Hawaii
- How Child Support Is Calculated in Hawaii
- Divorce Records in Hawaii
- Alimony and Spousal Support in Hawaii
- How to File for Divorce in Hawaii
- Legal Separation and Annulment in Hawaii
- All Hawaii divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How do you legally change your name in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, an adult changes his or her name outside divorce by a notarized petition to the Lieutenant Governor, not a court. The nonrefundable filing fee is $50. After the Lieutenant Governor signs the order, a notice of the change must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation, and within 60 days the petitioner must file the newspaper's affidavit of publication with the Lieutenant Governor's office or the petition is void. Publication can be skipped if a prosecuting attorney's affidavit shows it is needed for the petitioner's protection. Registered sex offenders generally cannot change their names this way.
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Hawaii?
In a divorce, either spouse may ask to resume the middle and last names used before the marriage (or a name used during a prior marriage), and the court includes the change in the divorce decree. The court can also change a minor child's name in the divorce if it is in the child's best interest. Other adult name changes are made by order of the lieutenant governor.
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.