DocDraft Logo

Massachusetts Name Change Petition

In Massachusetts an adult files a name change petition in the Probate and Family Court for the county where they live, and under current law newspaper publication is no longer a default requirement. Attorney review available.

Introduction

A name change petition is the court document an adult files to legally change their own name, and once a judge signs the decree the new name becomes the person's legal name. In Massachusetts you file the petition in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live, and the court grants the change unless it is inconsistent with public interests (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12). Under the version of the statute in force since November 25, 2025, newspaper publication is no longer a default requirement: the court may, for good cause shown, require public notice of the petition and hear anyone who objects (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). That same section segregates the petition and the case records from public inspection unless the court for good cause orders otherwise or you ask for them, so an adult name change is now private by default. Before entering the decree, the court requests a report from the commissioner of probation, the Massachusetts criminal-record (CORI) check, on the person filing the petition. After the decree is entered, the name it establishes is your legal name, and you use a certified copy to update Social Security, your Registry of Motor Vehicles license or ID, and other records. DocDraft builds your Massachusetts name change petition from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.

0/5000

Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    A name change petition lets an adult take a new legal name by court decree; since November 25, 2025 Massachusetts no longer makes newspaper publication a default step, and the Probate and Family Court keeps the petition private unless it orders notice for good cause.

  2. 2

    You file the petition in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live, and the court grants the change unless it is inconsistent with public interests (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12).

  3. 3

    Newspaper publication is no longer a default step in Massachusetts. Under Chapter 210, Section 13 (in force since November 25, 2025), the court may require public notice only for good cause shown, and may then hear anyone who objects.

  4. 4

    Massachusetts name change records are private by default: the petition, pleadings, and docket entries are segregated from public inspection unless the court for good cause orders otherwise or you request them (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13).

  5. 5

    Before entering the decree, the court requests a report from the commissioner of probation, the Massachusetts criminal-record (CORI) check, on the person filing the petition (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13).

  6. 6

    A hearing is not always required. The court may act on the papers, and a hearing follows only where the court, for good cause shown, requires public notice and someone to be heard (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13).

  7. 7

    After the decree is entered, the name it establishes is your legal name; order a certified copy to update Social Security, your Registry of Motor Vehicles license or ID, your passport, and other records. The filing fee is set by the court and a fee waiver is available if you cannot afford it.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Name Change Petition in Massachusetts, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Name Change Petition guide walks through them.

Open the Name Change Petition guide

Customize your Name Change Petition Template with DocDraft

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS The Trial Court Probate and Family Court [COUNTY] Division

In re the Change of Name of [CURRENT LEGAL NAME], Petitioner.

Docket No. ______________

PETITION TO CHANGE NAME OF ADULT (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12)

Petitioner respectfully states:

  1. Petitioner. Petitioner's present legal name is [CURRENT LEGAL NAME]. Petitioner was born in [PLACE OF BIRTH] and is over 18 years of age.

  2. Residence and venue. Petitioner resides at [STREET ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Massachusetts. This petition is filed in the Probate and Family Court for the county where petitioner resides, as provided by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12.

  3. Present and proposed name. Petitioner asks the Court to change petitioner's name from [CURRENT LEGAL NAME] to [REQUESTED NEW NAME].

  4. Reason. The reason for the requested change is [REASON, for example to use a name petitioner has long gone by, following a divorce, or to align petitioner's legal name with petitioner's identity].

  5. Consistency with public interests. This petition is made in good faith. The requested change is not inconsistent with public interests and is not sought to defraud any creditor, to evade any legal obligation, judgment, or criminal record, or for any fraudulent or other unlawful purpose (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12).

  6. Criminal record report. Petitioner understands that, before entering a decree, the Court requests a report from the commissioner of probation on petitioner, and petitioner will sign any release the Court requires so that this criminal-record (CORI) report may be obtained (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13).

  7. Notice and privacy. Petitioner understands that newspaper publication is not required unless the Court, for good cause shown, orders public notice of this petition, and that the petition and case records are segregated from public inspection unless the Court for good cause orders otherwise or petitioner requests them (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13).

  8. Supporting documents. Petitioner files with this petition a certified copy of petitioner's birth record and certified copies of any prior name change by decree or marriage, as required.

WHEREFORE, petitioner asks the Court to enter a decree changing petitioner's name from [CURRENT LEGAL NAME] to [REQUESTED NEW NAME], so that the name established by the decree becomes petitioner's legal name, and for any further relief the Court finds proper.

Signed under the penalties of perjury.

Dated: [DATE]

[CURRENT LEGAL NAME], Petitioner

Note: This is a Massachusetts adult name change petition drawn from Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12 and Section 13. Massachusetts sets the court (the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live), the standard (granted unless inconsistent with public interests), the criminal-record (CORI) report the court requests before the decree, and the current rule that publication is ordered only for good cause and the records are private by default. The Probate and Family Court petition form is CJP 27; confirm current forms and the filing fee with your court. For the generic template and other states, see the Name Change Petition hub.

Massachusetts Requirements for Name Change Petition

Probate and Family Court in Your County of Residence

An adult name change in Massachusetts is filed in the Probate and Family Court for the county where the petitioner resides. A petition for the change of name of a person may be heard by the probate court in the county where the petitioner resides, and the change is granted unless it is inconsistent with public interests (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12).

Residency and Venue

You file in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12). Massachusetts sets no fixed durational residency period for a name change; the requirement is that you reside in the county where you file. The petition states your current name, address, and the new name you are requesting.

Public Notice Only for Good Cause

Newspaper publication is not a default requirement in Massachusetts. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13 (in force since November 25, 2025), the court may, for good cause shown, require public notice of the petition and hear anyone who objects, so publication is now the exception rather than the rule.

Records Private by Default

The petition, all pleadings and papers filed with it, and the docket entries are segregated and not available for public inspection unless the court, for good cause shown, orders otherwise or you request them (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). An adult name change in Massachusetts is private by default.

Present Name and Proposed New Name

The petition must state your present legal name and the exact new name you are requesting. You file it with a certified copy of your birth record and certified copies of any prior name change by decree or marriage. On decree, the name it establishes becomes your legal name (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13).

Consistency with Public Interests

State the reason for the change and that it is made in good faith. A Massachusetts court grants the change of name unless it is inconsistent with public interests, such as a change sought to defraud a creditor, evade a legal obligation or criminal record, or for another unlawful purpose (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12).

Criminal Record (CORI) Report

Before entering a decree, the court requests a report from the commissioner of probation on the person filing the petition (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). This is the Massachusetts criminal-record (CORI) check; petitioners typically sign a CARI and Warrant Management System release (form CJP 34) so the court can obtain it.

Certified Copies After the Decree

After the decree is entered, the name it establishes is your legal name; order a certified copy from the register and use it to update Social Security, your Registry of Motor Vehicles license or ID, your passport, and other records (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). The filing fee is set by the court and a fee waiver is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

A name change petition is the court document an adult files in Massachusetts to legally change their own name. You state your present legal name and the new name you want, confirm you live in the county where you are filing, and give the reason. The Probate and Family Court grants the change unless it is inconsistent with public interests, and once the judge signs the decree the new name becomes your legal name (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12 and Section 13).

In Massachusetts you file a Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you live, with a certified copy of your birth record, pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver, and the court requests a criminal-record (CORI) report before deciding (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). Newspaper publication is no longer automatic; the court orders it only for good cause. If the court grants the petition, you use a certified copy of the decree to update your records.

Usually no. Under the version of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13 in force since November 25, 2025, newspaper publication is no longer a default requirement. The court may, for good cause shown, require public notice of the petition and hear anyone who objects, but publication is now the exception rather than the rule. The petition and records are also segregated from public inspection unless the court for good cause orders otherwise or you request them.

An adult name change in Massachusetts is heard by the Probate and Family Court. By statute, a petition for the change of name of a person may be heard by the probate court in the county where the petitioner resides (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12). You file in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you currently live, so filing in the wrong county can delay your case.

Massachusetts requires you to file in the Probate and Family Court for the county where you reside (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 12). The statute does not set a fixed number of months you must have lived in Massachusetts or the county before filing; the key requirement is that you reside in the county where you file. Your petition states your current name, address, and the new name you are requesting.

Yes. Before entering a decree, a Massachusetts court requests a report from the commissioner of probation on the person filing the petition (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). This is the Massachusetts criminal-record (CORI) check, and petitioners typically sign a CARI and Warrant Management System release (form CJP 34) so the court can obtain it. The check helps the court confirm the change is not sought for an unlawful purpose.

By default, yes. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13, the petition, all pleadings and papers filed with it, and the docket entries are segregated and not available for public inspection unless the court, for good cause shown, orders otherwise or you request them. This confidentiality applies to every adult name change in Massachusetts, which is a change from the older law that made public notice the norm.

Once the Probate and Family Court enters the decree, the name it establishes is your legal name in Massachusetts (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 210, Section 13). Order a certified copy of the decree from the register, then update your Social Security record first, followed by your Registry of Motor Vehicles license or ID, your passport, and your banks, employers, and other accounts. The certified decree is the document that proves your new legal name, so keep at least one copy.