Ohio residents are permitted to change their names to another, as long as it is not done for any fraudulent reason or to avoid paying debts. The name change process requires an in-person visit to the county’s probate court and cannot be done online. A name change after marriage Ohio is usually less tedious and time-consuming than a regular name change.
This article reveals a lot more about how to change your name in Ohio and the name change requirements to be met before such an application can be approved.
The following point should be covered in your name change form Ohio :
- An attestation declaring that the name change is not being requested to conduct fraud or a crime.
- Sign on a notarized form consenting to the current name change or be present at the hearing date if you are a minor.
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Previous name.
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New name.
What Is an Ohio Name Change Form & How Does It Work?
An Ohio Name Change form is a form that is filled, completed and executed under the provisions of the law by a citizen of the state who is looking to change their name. The decision to approve an application for a change of name or not is solely at the discretion of the court.
A new wife who wishes to take her husband’s last name is not obligated to file a petition for a name change in Ohio. A marriage license would usually suffice. A man who wants to take his wife’s last name however has to file a special court ordered approval in almost the same process with how the standard name change form is filed.
Name change in Ohio is divided into four main categories:
- Minor (Child) name change
- Adult name change
- Name change after marriage
- Name change after divorce
How to Legally Change Your Name in Ohio?
An Ohio resident who has lived in the state for at least 12 months and is at least 18 years old is allowed to petition a name change. Here’s how to change your name in Ohio.
Background check:
Although not mandated by state laws, they are required by certain counties. In these counties, the petitioner will be required to go through a background check from the list of providers highlighted in the Attorney’s general website. This should generally be about $40-$50.
Complete Name Change Application and Judgement Entry forms:
The petitioner is then required to obtain a Judgement Entry form and an Application for Change of Name of Adult Form and fill accordingly. However, fields like date, judge signature, hearing date, and deputy clerk should be left blank.
File forms:
After filling, the individual requesting a name change must then file the forms for a fee of about $80-$150. These forms must be submitted alongside a photo ID. In return, the petitioner receives a notice form from the clerk.
Publish Notice:
This notice must be published at a local newspaper at least 30 days before the hearing.
Issuance of order:
The petitioner then attends a hearing where the judge makes sure they are making this name change for a legitimate reason. Once the application is approved, the judge signs the judgement entry form also known as an order. This order can then be taken as a proof of a name change to financial institutions and other places.
When Do People Change Their Names in Ohio?
The most common reasons for a legal name change in Ohio is marriage, divorce or separation. A woman who wants a name change after marriage Ohio would usually go through a less tedious process than an adult who files a petition for a different reason. A woman may also wish to revert to her maiden name after a divorce or separation from her husband. Other common reasons for a name change application include:
- Association of the name with an infamous criminal
- Disassociation from a family last name
- Petitioner has been a victim of identity theft and so wants to change their name for security reasons
- Adoption
- Difficult to spell name
- Misspelled name
- Change of name to match a pen or stage name
An Ohio resident may also change their name because of their political and religious affiliations or for personal reasons.
Ohio Name Change Requirements
The requirements for an Ohio name change include:
- The application must be filed with a local county probate court
- The petitioner must have resided in the state for at least one year
- The individual should be able to give reasons for their name change request
- He/She should tell if they are registered sex or child victim offender
- The petitioner must be at least 18 years old.
Before the court grants a name change application, the court must establish a reasonable cause for the change of name, ensure that all requirements are met and that the change of name is consistent with public interest. Reasonable objections to the name change presented to the court may influence the court’s decision on whether the name change is consistent with the public interest or not.
The first step to getting your name changed in Ohio is getting a name change form. On CocoSign, you will find tens to hundreds of templates and fillable forms to work with.