Changing Your Name in Texas
How adults change their legal name in Texas: the court petition, publication, fees, and restoring a name after divorce.
Short answer: File a verified petition in the county where you live, stating your current name and residence, the new name, the reason, whether you have a final felony conviction or must register as a sex offender, and including a set of fingerprints. Tex. Fam. Code §§ 45.101, 45.102, 45.103
| Legal name change | File a verified petition in the county where you live, stating your current name and residence, the new name, the reason, whether you have a final felony conviction or must register as a sex offender, and including a set of fingerprints. The court must grant the change if it is in your interest and the public's interest (presumed for participants in the attorney general's address confidentiality program). A person with a felony conviction generally must have been discharged or completed supervision at least two years earlier, or been pardoned. The statute does not require newspaper publication. |
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| Changing your name after divorce | In a divorce or annulment decree, the court must change a party's name to a name the party previously used if the party specifically asks, unless the court states a reason for denying it; the court may not deny it only to keep family members' last names the same. A name change certificate can be obtained from the court clerk. Otherwise, an adult can file a separate petition to change name in the county where the adult lives; the petition must be verified and include fingerprints and information about any felony conviction and sex-offender registration. |
Where to get help in Texas
More Texas divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in Texas
- Adopting a Child in Texas
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in Texas
- Establishing Paternity in Texas
- Child Custody Laws in Texas
- How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas
- Divorce Records in Texas
- Alimony and Spousal Support in Texas
- How to File for Divorce in Texas
- Legal Separation and Annulment in Texas
- All Texas divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How do you legally change your name in Texas?
File a verified petition in the county where you live, stating your current name and residence, the new name, the reason, whether you have a final felony conviction or must register as a sex offender, and including a set of fingerprints. The court must grant the change if it is in your interest and the public's interest (presumed for participants in the attorney general's address confidentiality program). A person with a felony conviction generally must have been discharged or completed supervision at least two years earlier, or been pardoned. The statute does not require newspaper publication.
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Texas?
In a divorce or annulment decree, the court must change a party's name to a name the party previously used if the party specifically asks, unless the court states a reason for denying it; the court may not deny it only to keep family members' last names the same. A name change certificate can be obtained from the court clerk. Otherwise, an adult can file a separate petition to change name in the county where the adult lives; the petition must be verified and include fingerprints and information about any felony conviction and sex-offender registration.
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.