Florida Petition for Change of Name

Create Document
  1. Home »
  2. Name Change Petition »
  3. Florida

Florida Petition for Change of Name

A Florida petition for change of name is submitted to the circuit court by a Florida resident to request that their name be legally changed. The form requires the person to provide details regarding their personal history, including family, education, employment, profession, criminal record, bankruptcy, and creditors.

Create Document

Last updated November 27th, 2025

Document Preview

A Florida petition for change of name is submitted to the circuit court by a Florida resident to request that their name be legally changed. The form requires the person to provide details regarding their personal history, including family, education, employment, profession, criminal record, bankruptcy, and creditors.

Downloads: 19
Fill & Customize
Basic Download

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a resident of the county in which the request is filed.
  • 18 years or older
  • If under 18, parental permission is required.
  • Cannot be for an illegal or improper purpose.

How to Legally Change a Name in Florida

Step 1 – Background Check

Unless the name change request is for the restoration of a previous name, the person changing their name (the petitioner) must complete a fingerprint-based national and state criminal background check.[1]

The Department of Law Enforcement can be contacted to find a convenient location to have the petitioner’s fingerprints taken. The department will notify the petitioner when the background check is complete and file the results with the court.

Step 2 – Petition for Change of Name

The following forms must be completed:

Forms that require notarization can be notarized in advance by a notary public or at the time of filing by the court clerk (for a fee).

Step 3 – File Forms

The Petition for Change of Name and supporting forms and any related court documents (marriage certificate/divorce decree, etc.), must be filed with the circuit court in the petitioner’s jurisdiction.[2]

If the petitioner cannot afford to pay the filing fees, they can complete and file an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status to request the fees be waived.

Step 4 – Hearing Date

The petitioner must request a hearing date, which, if restoring a previous name, may be held immediately.[3] Otherwise, it will be held after the results of the background check are received.

Step 5 – Hearing and Judgment

The petitioner must arrive on time for their hearing, which will be presided over by a general magistrate, hearing officer, or judge. Appropriate dress is required.

If the petition is granted, the Final Judgment of Change of Name will be signed, and the court will notify the Office of Vital Statistics of the Department of Health and the Department of Law Enforcement about the name change.[4]

Marriage and Divorce

A person can also request that their name be changed by entering the new or previous name in their marriage license application or Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

Following approval, their name change will be made official through their marriage license or divorce decree.

Sources

  1. § 5901(2)(a)
  2. § 5901(1)
  3. § 5901(4)
  4. § 5901(5), (6)