Arkansas Petition for Change of Name

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An Arkansas Petition for Change of Name is a form used by residents to legally change their name through their county’s circuit court. To request a name change, the petitioner must provide their current name, new name, and the reasons for making the change. It’s recommended that name change petitioners have this document notarized before filing.

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Arkansas Petition for Change of Name

Last updated November 5th, 2025

An Arkansas Petition for Change of Name is a form used by residents to legally change their name through their county’s circuit court. To request a name change, the petitioner must provide their current name, new name, and the reasons for making the change. It’s recommended that name change petitioners have this document notarized before filing.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be filed with circuit court
  • Must provide sound reasoning

How to Legally Change a Name in Arkansas

Step 1 – Complete Forms

A person wishing to legally change their name must first complete a Circuit Court Civil Cover Sheet, a Petition for Change of Name, and an Order for Change of Name. The petition may require notarization, so the petitioner should wait to sign it until they are in the presence of a notary public.

Step 2 – File Forms

The petitioner must take all forms to the circuit court in their county and file them with the clerk for a fee (varies by county). The court clerk should inform the petitioner about the process of presenting the Order for Change of Name to a judge, if applicable. This may be in the form of an informal procedure or a court hearing.

Step 3 – Judge’s Order

When the petitioner is given the opportunity to present their case to a judge, the judge will review the documents and ask them questions, such as the reasons for the name change. If the judge determines that the petitioner is entitled to the name change, they will approve and sign the Order for Change of Name.

Step 4 – File Order

The petitioner’s Order form must be filed with the court clerk. A redacted version (i.e., does not contain confidential information) will be filed in the public records, and the clerk will send an unredacted copy to the Arkansas Crime Information Center, Arkansas Driver Control, and the Division of Vital Records to update the petitioner’s records.[1]

Marriage and Divorce

When taking a spouse’s name after marriage, the person changing their name can enter their preferred name on their marriage license application. A certificate will be provided after the marriage, serving as proof of the legal name change.

If a spouse wishes to resume their former name after a divorce, it’s within the court’s power to restore this name once the marriage is dissolved.[2] The divorce judgment will contain their previous name, which can be used to update their Social Security card, driver’s license, and other IDs and records.

Sources

  1. § 9-2-101(a)
  2. § 9-12-318