Changing Your Name in Montana
How adults change their legal name in Montana: the court petition, publication, fees, and restoring a name after divorce.
Short answer: An adult files a signed petition in the district court of the county where he or she lives, stating place of birth and residence, the current and proposed names, and the reason. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 27-31-101, 27-31-201, 27-31-202, 27-31-203
| Legal name change | An adult files a signed petition in the district court of the county where he or she lives, stating place of birth and residence, the current and proposed names, and the reason. Notice of the hearing must be published for 4 successive weeks in a county newspaper (or posted in three public places if there is no county newspaper), unless the court allows a sealed-record petition because the petitioner's safety is at risk. Anyone may file objections before the hearing. Petitioners under Department of Corrections supervision or in prison must serve the department. |
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| Changing your name after divorce | If a spouse whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid asks, the court must order that spouse's maiden, birth or other former name restored. In a summary dissolution, the joint petition states whether either spouse wants a former name restored. |
Where to get help in Montana
More Montana divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in Montana
- Adopting a Child in Montana
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in Montana
- Establishing Paternity in Montana
- Child Custody Laws in Montana
- How Child Support Is Calculated in Montana
- Divorce Records in Montana
- Alimony and Spousal Support in Montana
- How to File for Divorce in Montana
- Legal Separation and Annulment in Montana
- All Montana divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How do you legally change your name in Montana?
An adult files a signed petition in the district court of the county where he or she lives, stating place of birth and residence, the current and proposed names, and the reason. Notice of the hearing must be published for 4 successive weeks in a county newspaper (or posted in three public places if there is no county newspaper), unless the court allows a sealed-record petition because the petitioner's safety is at risk. Anyone may file objections before the hearing. Petitioners under Department of Corrections supervision or in prison must serve the department.
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Montana?
If a spouse whose marriage is dissolved or declared invalid asks, the court must order that spouse's maiden, birth or other former name restored. In a summary dissolution, the joint petition states whether either spouse wants a former name restored.
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.