Maine Name Change Petition
In Maine an adult files a name change petition in the Probate Court of the county where they live, and Maine does not require newspaper publication of the change. Attorney review available.
Introduction
A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally take a new name, and Maine forbids the court from requiring public notice, so no newspaper publication runs before a Probate Court judge signs the order granting it. In Maine you file the petition in the Probate Court of the county where you reside (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Unlike many states, Maine does not require you to publish notice of the change in a newspaper; by statute the court may not require public notice before approving the name change (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Maine does require an adult petitioner to undergo a criminal history record check, and the court may deny a petition it believes is sought to defraud another person or entity or is otherwise contrary to the public interest (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). On request, the court may keep the name change record confidential where your interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest. After the order is signed, you use certified copies to update Social Security, your Maine driver's license, and other records. DocDraft builds your Maine name change petition from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
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A name change petition lets an adult take a new legal name by court order; Maine bars the court from requiring public notice, so unlike most states no newspaper publication runs before a Probate Court judge approves it.
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You file the petition in the Probate Court of the county where you reside (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
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Maine does not require newspaper publication of an adult name change; by statute the court may not require public notice before approving the change (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
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Maine requires an adult seeking a name change to undergo a criminal history record check, and the court may also order a motor vehicle record check or credit check for any petitioner (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
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The court may deny a petition it believes is sought to defraud another person or entity or is otherwise contrary to the public interest, with a rebuttable presumption of improper purpose for a petitioner under official supervision or required to register as a sex offender (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
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On request, the Probate Court may make the name change record confidential where your interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest, considering factors such as being a victim of abuse or fear for your safety (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
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The statutory filing fee for a name change petition is $75; a fee waiver may be available if you cannot afford it, and after the order you order certified copies to update Social Security, your Maine driver's license or ID, your passport, and other records (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Name Change Petition in Maine, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Name Change Petition guide walks through them.
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Maine Requirements for Name Change Petition
An adult name change in Maine is filed in the Probate Court of the county where the petitioner resides. By statute, a person may petition to change that person's name in the Probate Court in the county where the person resides (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Each Maine county has its own Probate Court.
You file in the Probate Court of the county where you reside (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Maine sets no fixed durational residency period for a name change; the requirement is that you reside in the county where you file, so file in your home county to avoid a venue problem.
Maine does not require newspaper publication of an adult name change. By statute the court may not require public notice before approving the name change (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Because no publication is required, no safety waiver of publication is needed; confidentiality of the record can instead be requested from the court.
The petition states your present legal name, your date of birth and address, and the exact new name you are requesting, along with the reason for the change (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). The court changes the name from the present name to the proposed name in its decree.
State the reason for the change and that it is made in good faith. The court may deny a petition it believes is sought to defraud another person or entity or is otherwise contrary to the public interest, with a rebuttable presumption of improper purpose for a petitioner under official supervision or required to register as a sex offender (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
Maine requires an adult seeking a name change to undergo a criminal history record check, and the court may also order a motor vehicle record check or credit check for any petitioner, the cost of which may be borne by the petitioner (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). A criminal record does not automatically bar a change.
On request, the Probate Court may make the name change record confidential where the adult's interest in maintaining confidentiality outweighs the public interest, considering factors such as being a victim of abuse or a reasonable fear for safety (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). This option can matter for petitioners changing a name for safety reasons.
The statutory filing fee for a name change petition is $75 (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701); a fee waiver may be available if you cannot afford it. After the decree is signed, order certified copies from the court and use them to update Social Security, your Maine driver's license or ID, your passport, and other records.
Frequently Asked Questions
A name change petition is the court document an adult files in Maine to legally change their own name. You state your present legal name and the new name you want, confirm you reside in the county where you are filing, give the reason, and confirm the change is not to defraud anyone or otherwise contrary to the public interest. After an adult criminal history record check, a Probate Court judge enters a decree that makes the new name your legal name (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701).
In Maine you file a Petition for Change of Name in the Probate Court of the county where you reside, pay the $75 filing fee or request a fee waiver, and complete the required criminal history record check (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Maine does not require newspaper publication, so no notice needs to run before approval. If the court is satisfied the change is not for an improper purpose, it enters a decree, and you use certified copies to update your records.
No. Maine does not require newspaper publication of an adult name change. By statute the court may not require public notice before approving the name change (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Because no publication is required, no safety waiver of publication is needed. Separately, you can ask the court to keep the name change record confidential where your interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest, such as when you are a victim of abuse or fear for your safety.
An adult name change in Maine is heard by the Probate Court. By statute a person may petition to change their name in the Probate Court in the county where the person resides (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). Each Maine county has its own Probate Court, so file in the county where you live. Filing in the wrong county can delay your case.
Maine ties the filing to where you live: you petition in the Probate Court of the county where you reside (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). The statute does not set a fixed number of months you must have lived in Maine or the county before filing; the key requirement is that you reside in the county where you file. File in your home county to avoid a venue problem.
Yes. Maine requires an adult seeking a name change to undergo a criminal history record check (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). The court may also require a motor vehicle record check or a credit check for any petitioner, and the cost may be borne by the petitioner. A criminal record does not automatically bar a change, but the court may deny a petition it finds is sought to defraud or is otherwise contrary to the public interest.
It can, on request. A Maine Probate Court may make the name change record confidential where the adult's interest in maintaining confidentiality outweighs the public interest, considering factors such as being a victim of abuse or a reasonable fear for safety (Title 18-C, Maine Revised Statutes, Section 1-701). A rebuttable presumption of improper purpose applies to a petitioner who is under official supervision or required to register as a sex offender, which can limit confidential treatment.
Once the Maine Probate Court judge signs the decree changing your name, order several certified copies from the court. Use them to update your Social Security record first, then your Maine driver's license or ID, your passport, and then banks, employers, and other accounts. Each agency has its own process, but the certified decree is the document that proves your new legal name. Keep at least one certified copy for your records.