How to Change Your Legal Name in New Jersey

Changing your name in New Jersey requires a series of steps performed in a particular order. Here's an overview of what to expect.

Have questions about a legal name change? Get answers from an experienced attorney.

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Christine Funk, J.D.

Christine Funk graduated cum laude from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and has a bachelor's degree from St. Catherine University. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and can be found at christinefunk and on most social networks as @funkcsi.

How to get a New Jersey name change in 9 steps

Though changing your name can seem complex, we've covered the full process for you.

1. Fill out the appropriate forms

To change your name, you must fill out the following forms:

a Verified Complaint, which details your current name, your desired name, and why you want to change your name
an Order Fixing Date of Hearing (Note: there are parts of this form you leave blank for the court to complete)
a Final Judgment (Note: there are parts of this form you leave blank for the court to complete)
a Civil Case Information Statement, which summarizes your case for the court

Except for portions the court must complete, you should fill out the forms completely. Don't forget to sign them as required. The website of the New Jersey Courts provides instructions and copies of the forms.

Once you have completed the forms, make two copies. Send one copy to the court with the original and keep the other for your records.

2. File the forms and pay the filing fee

You can file your forms by delivering or mailing them to the courthouse. Be sure to include all of the following:

the completed forms and their copies
a check or money order made out to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey to pay the filing fee (contact the Court for the amount)
a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE)

Make sure your SASE has appropriate return postage so the court can return the relevant forms to you. If you are sending the forms through the mail, it is a good idea to send them using certified mail with a return receipt requested.

3. Review returned forms

The forms will be returned to you with a docket number added. Use this on all future correspondence about the matter. The form will also have a date for your hearing and the name of a newspaper.

4. Publish the Order Fixing Date of Hearing

Once you receive your court date, you must publish your Order Fixing Date of Hearing in the newspaper the court identified when they returned your forms to you. This notice must be published at least two weeks before your hearing date.

5. Provide proof to the court

Once published, the newspaper will send an Affidavit of Publication, which is your proof that you published the Order. The Affidavit will also identify the name of the newspaper in which the Order was published. You must provide the original Affidavit of Publication to the court. Send this via certified mail and keep a copy for your records.

6. Notify the state or county prosecutor and provide Proof of Mailing

If you are facing criminal charges, you must notify the prosecutor of the county where the charges are being heard or the Office of the Attorney General. You must send a copy of both the Order Fixing Date of Hearing and the Verified Complaint via certified mail to the prosecutor and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice via certified mail.

Next, you must fill out the Proof of Mailing form completely. Attach the original certified mail receipts for the Verified Complaint and the signed Order Fixing Date for Hearing and forward to the court.

7. Make your court appearance

Appear on the date and time set by the court for your name change.

8. Publish again

You must publish the Final Judgment signed by the court in the same newspaper. This must occur no more than 20 days after the court signs the Judgment. Again, the newspaper will send you an Affidavit of publication. You should send the original of this document to the court and maintain a copy for your records.

9. Send and deliver certified copies to relevant government agencies

You must send or deliver certified copies of the Final Judgment to the Department of the Treasury and the Registrar of Vital Statistics and deliver a copy to the Motor Vehicle Agency or Regional Service Center.