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Eligibility Requirements
- 18 or older
- Resident of the county where filing
- Must not have lost civil rights or privileges from a conviction
- If under age 14, consent from both parents
- If aged 14 to 17, consent from child
Changing the Name of a Minor
The guide below is for adults who wish to change their name. Additional steps are required for minor name change requests (see Iowa Judicial Branch website for instructions).
How to Legally Change a Name in Iowa
Step 1 – Fill out the Petition
The person seeking a name change must complete a Petition for Change of Name of Adult and attach a certified copy of their birth certificate. If the certificate is unavailable, the petition must explain why and include an alternative form of identification.[1]
Petitions may also be completed online using the LawHelp Interactive website.
Step 2 – File With the District Court
Once completed, the Petition for Change of Name of Adult must be submitted electronically to the district court through the eFile system, unless a clerk grants permission to file in person.[2] A $195 filing fee is required at the time of submission.[3]
Step 3 – Notify Spouse
If the petitioner is married, a legal notice of the name change request must be served on their spouse, which may involve a service fee.[4]
Courts typically demand a document showing proof of service. Petitioners should contact a court clerk for specific service instructions.
Step 4 – Wait for Court Order
Step 5 – Update Personal Records
After receiving the Decree of Name Change, the petitioner can present it to the Department of Transportation, Social Security Administration, and other agencies to update their records with the new name.
Updating a Birth Certificate
- Individuals born in Iowa must send the abstract of the Decree to the Department of Health and Human Services.[7]
- Individuals born in another state must send the abstract to that state’s vital records office.
Marriage and Divorce
Requesting a new name through marriage is accomplished by entering the name on the marriage application. Once married, the recorder’s office will send a certified copy of the marriage certificate that can be used as proof of the name change.
To revert to a former name during a divorce, a request must be included in either the petition or the answer (depending on whether they’re the petitioner or respondent). The court will then include the name change in the final decree.[8]